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The phrase “on the bent knee” is used to describe a sincere and important request. Kneeling to make requests is an old tradition in Western culture, while in the Orient, people often make requests in a seated position or deep bow. The implication of kneeling is submission, indicating respect and submission to people of higher social standing. While it’s not necessary to literally kneel, being polite and submissive can impress someone with your sincere desire for them to accept your request. The tradition of kneeling for a marriage proposal is still maintained.
This phrase is used both literally, to refer to someone in a kneeling position, and figuratively, to describe someone making a sincere and important request or plea. The concept of kneeling to make requests is very old, especially in Western culture, where people have been kneeling for thousands of years to pray, accept honors and ask for favours. In the Orient, people often go beyond bending over, making such requests in a seated position or in a deep bow.
You may be wondering, incidentally, why the phrase is “on the bent knee” rather than “on the bent knee”, since “bent” is generally seen as proper English. The use of “bent” is actually archaic; “bent” emerged around 1600, but “bent” has been kept specifically in this phrase ever since. The term “on your knees” is also correct, although it sounds slightly less exciting and romantic.
The implication of bending or kneeling is that the person bending submits. People often adopt stooped positions to pray, indicating a submission to God’s will. People have also historically stooped to emphasize respect and submission to people of higher social standing. This has been particularly true in circumstances where people wish to request something, such as a gift of land, titles, or clemency from a lord historically.
When someone says they made a request “on their knees,” the implication is that they asked as humbly as possible, in a way that could be said to border on humiliation or pleading. This would also suggest that he or she made every effort to ensure that the request was granted, indicating that the outcome of the request depended entirely on the person who had the power to grant it.
There’s not necessarily any shame in going out of your way to make a request, especially when dealing with someone who holds very traditional or formal values. Taking the necessary steps to present a request in a clear and polite manner is always a good idea if you want the request to be granted, and sometimes being particularly submissive and deferential to someone can impress them with your sincere desire that they accept your request. In most cases, you literally don’t have to get on your knees, unless your benefactor likes the dramatic style. However, it is possible to overdo it; be careful to appear obsequious when you request something, and make sure you don’t cross the line of artifice when making a request.
While people rarely literally kneel to make requests in the West, there is one circumstance where it is considered appropriate to ask for something on one’s knees: a marriage proposal. The maintenance of the tradition of kneeling in this particular case is probably related to the long formal traditions associated with betrothals and marriage, and many people find it glamorous to be proposed on their knees. The tradition of kneeling to ask for someone’s hand is reminiscent of a time when kneeling was a sign of deep respect, indicating an intense desire for something.
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