kowtow /ˌkaʊˈtaʊ/ (also kow-tow) TEM4 ( kowtowing, kowtowed, kowtows )

• 1. 

  V-I If you say that someone kowtows to someone else, you are criticizing them because they are too eager to obey or be polite to someone in authority. 卑躬屈膝; 唯命是从 [非正式]

  例：

  See how stupidly they kow-tow to persons higher in the hierarchy.

  瞧他们对上级唯命是从的样子是多么的愚蠢。