Talk:bow

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bow

The verb sense:- To become bent or curved.

1. The shelf bowed under the weight of the books.
   

Isn't this Pronunciation 1 Etymology 1. The saved talk page also shows this. The shelf bent into an arched shape (like a bow). - Algrif 14:57, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
Come to that, sense 3 could also be suspect for the same reson. - Algrif 15:03, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

I completely agree, on both counts. DCDuring 15:27, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

This is news to me; I would always have pronounced and understood this as the shelf bowing (ˈbaʊing), i.e. bending downward under strain. Of course it may be understood and pronounced in both ways. But is bow(1) ever used as a verb having the meaning "bend upward or sideways into the shape of a bow"? -- Visviva 00:23, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

It is definitely the sense as in bent into a curve not bending down and pronounced as such. - [The]DaveRoss 00:45, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

Needing link

It's need to this entry having a link to take a bow.--Sdrtirs 07:10, 26 July 2008 (UTC)

Now added. You can do that kind of thing yourself though... Widsith 07:12, 26 July 2008 (UTC)

its "bow"?

What is the meaning of "bow" in this article:

For the Bond sequel, the question is how big it will bow

You know there has been a seismic shift in the global marketplace when a studio tentpole can ring up $200 million before its U.S. bow.

Initially, "Solace" was to bow Nov. 7 in the U.S. and Canada

But its early bow in China and other piracy-prone territories

Partly because of the global buildup to the stateside bow,

Paramount will seek as much moolah as possible before Disney bows its animated feature "Bolt" next weekend

-- http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i85a08b80d9eabe09ff0cfbfc68ed0bb0

Does it mean "debut"/"to debut"? 85.227.226.184 11:59, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

Yes. -- Visviva 12:10, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for adding this. But shouldn't it be added to the noun section as well (just like debut)? 85.227.226.184 16:26, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

And oh, is it regional? I checked a few online dictionaries. None mention the bow equals debut translation. What's up with this? 85.227.226.184 16:30, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

Anyone in the know? 85.227.226.201 02:38, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Not regional, just industry jargon (motion picture industry). —Stephen 18:32, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Okay... don't tease us. References? Come on, you know the drill :) 85.227.226.201 07:41, 7 December 2008 (UTC)

You must not have looked very hard. Feel free to help. What is it that you doubt? DCDuring TALK 13:12, 8 December 2008 (UTC)

In fairness, this expression does seem to considerably antedate the motion picture industry. -- Visviva 14:10, 8 December 2008 (UTC)

I expect that the "semantic"-level etymology would not find this in attestable use until the twentieth century. The transitive use seems likely quite new (late 20th). I'd almost bet on its coinage in a Variety or Hollywood Reporter headline. The research is a bit tedious. DCDuring TALK 15:41, 8 December 2008 (UTC)

This sense (to première or début) is now listed under both etymology 1 and 2! Which is it? Neither makes sense to me and I've never heard them. I guess they're Americanisms. I'd assume they're perhaps references to actors bowing to the audience in thanks for their applause. In that case, it would be etymology (and very importantly, pronunciation) number 2. Correctrix (talk) 16:13, 6 February 2021 (UTC)

 Done Removed one of the duplicates. Equinox ◑ 16:26, 6 February 2021 (UTC)

Describing a nautical bow

Chambers 1908 says that a bold bow or bluff bow is a broad one, while a lean bow is a narrow one. Possibly SoP. Equinox ◑ 01:45, 28 February 2019 (UTC)

(Intransitiv) yield

(Intransitiv) to accept something and yield to it, often unwillingly
In the end they had to bow to the inevitable and sell their house

--Backinstadiums (talk) 16:41, 6 October 2020 (UTC)