take the knee

Verb

take a knee (third-person singular simple present takes a knee, present participle taking a knee, simple past took a knee, past participle taken a knee)

1. To come to rest, usually briefly, with one of one's knees on the ground.
   • Levon Berry, a 288-pound tackle for S. Pete, decided to take a knee and adjust the adhesive tape that's wrapped around his street shoes.1972 November 6, Tim Wood, “Tale of the tape and dig those shoes”, in The Tampa Times, page 31
2. (Canadian) Of any player with the ball, to kneel and place the ball on the ground, thereby ending the play and indicating they do not intend to advance with the ball.
   • The N.F.L. estimates that number could rise to 30 percent, but special-teams coaches say at least 40 percent of kickoffs will end with the returner taking a knee in the end zone.2011 August 6, Judy Battista, “Take a Knee or Take a Risk”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 16 Jul 2021
3. To cease performing customary activities or duties and kneel on one knee, sometimes as a form of protest.
   • Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts said Wednesday night that officers "took a knee" after the April riots following the death of Freddie Gray, allowing crime to spike because they felt a lack of support from commanders.2015 September 2, “Anthony Batts says police 'took a knee' after Baltimore riots”, in Baltimore Sun
4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take, knee.
   • During the play he took a knee to the helmet.