Meaning of tug one's forelock | Babel Free

Definitions

To show deference or obsequious respect.

idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

“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?"”

CEFR level