bring (someone) to his/her knees

idiom

: to completely defeat or overwhelm (someone)
The general vowed he would bring the enemy to their knees.
often used figuratively
The increase in oil prices could bring the economy to its knees.

Browse Nearby Entries

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bring (someone) to his/her knees.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bring%20%28someone%29%20to%20his%2Fher%20knees. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!