tug one's forelock
To show deference or obsequious respect.
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 comp
forelock
noun 3verb 1
Collocations
4ADJ.
golden, over
VERB + FORELOCK
parted
PREP.
from
ADV.
manly
Definitions
noun
1
The part of a person's hairstyle which covers the forehead.
His fair large front and eye sublime declared / Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks / Round from his parted forelock manly hung / Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad:
1734, The Koran: Commonly Called the Alkoran of Mohammed, translated by George Sale, Sura 96, Congealed Blood, http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/7440/pg7440-images.html Doth he not know that GOD seeth? / Assuredly. Verily, if he forbear not, we will drag him by the forelock, / the lying, sinful forelock. / And let him call his council to assistance: / we also will call the infernal guards to cast him into hell.
2
The part of a horse's (or similar animal's) mane that lies on its forehead.
[…] the gates themselves slowly parted, there appeared a large horse's head, with a plaited forelock under a decorated yoke, and slowly there rolled into the road a small cart, like those driven by horse-dealers, and higglers.
Even Boxer was vaguely troubled. He set his ears back, shook his forelock several times, and tried hard to marshal his thoughts; but in the end he could not think of anything to say.
noun
1
A wedge pushed through a hole at the end of a bolt to hold it in place.
verb
1
To fix in place with a forelock (wedge)
At one extremity each pair was firmly connected by a short, massive, iron link, of about two feet in length; and, at its opposite end, a large eye-bolt was driven into each stick, where it was securely forelocked.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
noun — a lock of a horse's mane that grows forward between the ears
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
take time by the forelock
To seize an opportunity quickly before it is no longer available.
Tell her the ioyous time wil not be staid, / Unlesse she doe him by the forelock take;
Example Bank
601
His fair large front and eye sublime declared / Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks / Round from his parted forelock manly hung / Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad:
Wiktionary02
1734, The Koran: Commonly Called the Alkoran of Mohammed, translated by George Sale, Sura 96, Congealed Blood, http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/7440/pg7440-images.html Doth he not know that GOD see
Wiktionary03
Warm with the blood of lads I know / Comes east the sighing air. / / It fanned their temples, filled their lungs, / Scattered their forelocks free;
Wiktionary04
At one extremity each pair was firmly connected by a short, massive, iron link, of about two feet in length; and, at its opposite end, a large eye-bolt was driven into each stick, where it was securel
Wiktionary05
Take hold of opportunity by the forelock.
Tatoeba · #205390406
A golden forelock fell over his forehead and eyes.
Tatoeba · #6173779Usage Notes
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