bow to pressure

Meaning

This expression means to give in, submit, or yield to demands, expectations, or influence from others, especially after initial resistance. It often carries a slightly critical tone, suggesting a lack of resolve, though it can also describe a pragmatic decision.

Examples

• The school board eventually had to bow to pressure from parents and reinstate the music program.

  The school board eventually had to bow to pressure from parents and reinstate the music program.

• Despite his strong stance, the politician bowed to pressure and resigned from his post.

  Despite his strong stance, the politician bowed to pressure and resigned from his post.

• We shouldn't bow to pressure just because our competitors are lowering their prices.

  We shouldn't bow to pressure just because our competitors are lowering their prices.

• Under intense media scrutiny, the company finally bowed to pressure and recalled the faulty devices.

  Under intense media scrutiny, the company finally bowed to pressure and recalled the faulty devices.

• She refused to bow to pressure from her peers to skip class.

  She refused to bow to pressure from her peers to skip class.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He bowed under pressure of his boss.

  ✓ He bowed to pressure from his boss.

  The correct preposition after 'bow' in this idiom is 'to', and the source of the pressure is introduced by 'from'.

• ✗ The company bent to the pressure and changed the policy.

  ✓ The company bowed to pressure and changed the policy.

  While 'bend under pressure' exists, the fixed idiomatic phrase for yielding to demands is 'bow to pressure' (usually without 'the').

Related Expressions

Practice

• The mayor refused to ___ from local businesses to lift the lockdown early.

  💡 Yield to demands.

  Show answer

  bow to pressure

• It takes a lot of courage not to ___ when everyone else disagrees with you.

  💡 Give in to social expectations.

  Show answer

  bow to pressure