Bow out means leave a contest, election, project or a role you've had for a long time. A bow is what a performer does before leaving the stage, so the phrase sounds graceful even when a team simply lost: two teams bowed out of the competition. Here bow rhymes with now.
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bow out; bow out of a competition / role
- After twelve seasons, the presenter decided to bow out.
- Two teams bowed out of the competition before the final.
- I'm going to bow out and let someone else lead the discussion.
What changed
First versionShe bowed out from the contest.
RevisionShe bowed out of the contest.
Leaving a place often goes with from, so bowed out from feels right. But bow out goes with of: bowed out of the contest. Drop out of and pull out of work the same way.
Drop out means quit before finishing: drop out of college. Bow out means leave with dignity, often by choice: she bowed out of the race to support another candidate. He bowed out of college sounds odd, because there's no graceful exit there.
Your turn
Complete the usual pattern: He decided to bow out ___ the election race.
Show the answer
of — You bow out of a race or competition. At doesn't work here, and from is a common slip because it sounds like leaving.
Describe someone who left a team, contest or project, and explain why.
Mina bowed out of the debate because she needed to catch the last train.
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