make a leg

English

Verb

(idiomatic, Britain) To make a deep bow with the right leg drawn back.
- c. 1595, William Shakespeare, Richard II, act 3, scene 3:
  King Richard II: What must the king do now? must he submit? . . .
  
  What says King Bolingbroke? will his majesty
  
  Give Richard leave to live till Richard die?
  
  You make a leg, and Bolingbroke says ay.
- 1870, Charles Dickens, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, chapter 18:
  "I beg pardon," said Mr. Datchery, making a leg with his hat under his arm, as he addressed himself equally to both gentlemen.
- 1880, R. D. Blackmore, Mary Anerley: A Yorkshire Tale, chapter 26:
  "Father, return thanks; make a leg—no man can do it better. Master Mordacks, you shall have our utmost duty."

Synonyms

bow and scrape

Translations

to make a deep bow

Finnish: pokata (fi)

Anagrams

megalake, megaleak

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