Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tug one's forelock

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.78 in modern English

Syllables: tug one's -fore-lock
IPA

25

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

3

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To show deference or obsequious respect.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"These students were quite capable of tugging their forelocks while raising two fingers behind their backs (Newby, 1977), i.e. producing deferential behaviour as part of a more complicated game of manipulation."
""Aw, lay off, will you? It's part of my job, you know that." "Yeah, bowing and scraping and tugging your forelock to all those rich old crones. Somebody's chauffeur probably got a scratch on the El Dorado, huh?""

Etymology

From a traditional gesture of respect to the higher classes, pulling down one’s front piece of hair or cap in a mock bow.

Usage

Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

tugs one's forelock (present, singular) tugging one's forelock (participle, present) tugged one's forelock (participle, past) tugged one's forelock (past)

Synonyms

bow and scrape pull one's forelock touch one's forelock

Questions

What does tug one's forelock mean?: To show deference or obsequious respect.
Where does tug one's forelock come from?: From a traditional gesture of respect to the higher classes, pulling down one’s front piece of hair or cap in a mock bow.

How to pronounce tug one's forelock

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