cap in hand: meaning & examples
Open in appLanguage: English
Meanings:
- Humbly and submissively seeking a favor, assistance, or forgiveness; approaching someone as a supplicant or petitioner.
- To make a request or plea in a contrite or obsequious manner, often implying loss of pride or dignity.
Examples
BetaWhen Sarah realized she needed a favor, she approached her boss cap in hand, hoping for understanding.
When Sarah realized she needed a favor, she approached her boss cap in hand, hoping for understanding.
You don't think he'll come to the meeting cap in hand, do you? He usually demands respect rather than asks humbly.
You don't think he'll come to the meeting cap in hand, do you? He usually demands respect rather than asks humbly.
After the mistake, Tom showed up at the office cap in hand, ready to apologize and make amends.
After the mistake, Tom showed up at the office cap in hand, ready to apologize and make amends.
- To be forced to appeal to a person or authority for money, support, or permission, typically after a failure to secure it independently.
Examples
BetaSince the startup failed to secure funding on its own, they had to go to the investors cap in hand.
Since the startup failed to secure funding on its own, they had to go to the investors cap in hand.
Do you think the team will end up cap in hand asking the board for more resources again this quarter?
Do you think the team will end up cap in hand asking the board for more resources again this quarter?
After the project went over budget, the manager was cap in hand, requesting additional funds.
After the project went over budget, the manager was cap in hand, requesting additional funds.
Examples:
- EN: Only now, in the worst artistic drought in broadcast history, does the channel come crawling back, cap in hand and suitably ashamed, asking if your humble fabulist could once more retrieve Darkplace from the boxes in his spacious basement and let it loose on its unsuspecting public.ES: Y ahora, durante la peor sequía creativa de la historia de la TV, aquellos mandamases vienen con el rabo entre las piernas, suplicando a este humilde fabulista que rescate "Darkplace" de su sótano, y la muestre ante la confiada audiencia.
- EN: There aren't enough barriers, so we've gone cap in hand to the French for theirs.ES: Hemos tenido que rogarle a los franceses que colaboren.
- EN: Don't come running cap in hand.ES: No vengas corriendo a pedirme una mano.
- EN: I'm not going cap in hand to that little toe rag!ES: ¡No voy a darle en bandeja a esa basura!
- EN: Did America go, cap in hand, and ask Tojo for a peaceful negotiation of terms'?ES: ¿los EE.UU. le pidieron humildemente a Tojo la negociación de los términos de paz?
- EN: You're standing there cap in hand and you're already into me up to your tits. You've got to spend money to make money.ES: Estás parado ahí como mendigo y ya me estás atrayendo a tus tetas.
- EN: Provided they come unarmed, cap in hand.ES: Siempre que vengan desarmados, gorra en mano.
- EN: After dark, the children will become afraid and come home cap in hand.ES: Al anochecer, los niños tendrán miedo y volverán a casa con el rabo entre las piernas.
- EN: The king of England go cap in hand to the common people, like a--ES: El rey de Inglaterra pidiendo al pueblo como si fuera...
- EN: Something we can't allow, going cap in hand to the Frogs, of all people!ES: ¡No podemos permitirlo, ir a pedirle favores justo a los franceses!
- EN: If you think I'm crawling cap in hand to that bunch of Neanderthals, you've got another thing coming.ES: Si crees que voy a arrastrarme con el rabo entre las piernas ante esa panda de neandertales, estás muy equivocada.
- EN: So reckon you think coming back cap in hand,ES: Así que ... creo que si a su vez con la cola entre las piernas, te perdono?
- EN: They'll come cap in hand to Melmotte.ES: Vendrán a mí, sombrero en mano.
- EN: There was the added complication that in England, even little gods on earth had to go cap in hand to parliament for the money to fight.ES: Y había además la complicación añadida de que en Inglaterra, incluso los diosecillos terrenales debían ir gorra en mano al Parlamento a pedir dinero.
- EN: In the last two weeks of May, hidden from public view, he fought the most desperate and important campaign of his entire life to prevent Britain from going cap in hand to Hitler.ES: En las últimas dos semanas de mayo en las que no se dejó ver en público, libró la campaña más desesperada e importante de toda su vida para evitar que Bretaña se arrodillara ante Hitler.
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Sourced from Wiktionary
Source: Wiktionary