take a knee
Show respectful deference
Take a knee means to drop to one knee, typically as a gesture of respect, protest, or pause.
Athletes take a knee when a player is injured.
The phrase gained political charge when NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, making take a knee shorthand for similar silent protests.
In football, a quarterback takes a knee to run out the clock safely.
Direct effort for reform
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- civil disobediencePeaceful refusal to obey
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- boycottOrganized economic protest
anthem · Kaepernick · NFL · sideline · inequality · injustice · solidarity · movement
Offering of respect
- memorialThing preserving remembrance
- silenceTotal lack of sound
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- fallenHaving dropped down
remembrance · respect · vigil · ceremony · loss · tragedy · solidarity · gesture
Close protective gathering
- timeoutBrief suspension of play
- coachOne who instructs
- playbookDocumented set of tactics
- quarterbackPassing position in football
formation · snap · gridiron · fourth down · injury timeout · substitution · strategy · sideline
Commitment to wed or attend
- ringClosed curve shape
- romanticConducive to love
- marriageFormal union between partners
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
gesture · partner · nervous · tradition · moment · diamond · commitment · relationship
Secondary business pursuit
- trainerOne who conditions others
- stretcherPortable frame for casualties
- timeoutBrief suspension of play
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
recovery · pain · swelling · ligament · cartilage · meniscus · brace · medical
activism
Direct effort for reform
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- civil disobediencePeaceful refusal to obey
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
boycott · anthem · Kaepernick · NFL · sideline · inequality · injustice · solidarity · movement · statement
tribute
Offering of respect
fallen · remembrance · respect · vigil · ceremony · loss · tragedy · solidarity · gesture · somber
huddle
Close protective gathering
quarterback · formation · snap · gridiron · fourth down · injury timeout · substitution · strategy · sideline · halftime
engagement
Commitment to wed or attend
surprise · gesture · partner · nervous · tradition · moment · diamond · commitment · relationship · question
sideline
Secondary business pursuit
- trainerOne who conditions others
- stretcherPortable frame for casualties
- timeoutBrief suspension of play
rehabilitation · recovery · pain · swelling · ligament · cartilage · meniscus · brace · medical · bench
prayer
Address to deity
blessing · genuflection · kneel · sanctuary · chapel · pew · supplication · humility · sacred · faith
pause
Temporary cessation of activity
fatigue · exhaustion · hydration · respite · break · catch breath · regroup · stamina · endurance · exertion
take a kneestand
Upright support structure
stand up · stand tall · rise · get up · stand at attention
take a kneeconform
Behave as expected
fall in line · pledge allegiance · comply · toe the line · stand at attention
take, knee, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, knees, kneed