1bend 
/ˈbɛnd/ verb
bends; bent /ˈbɛnd/ verb /ˈbɛnt/; bend·ing 1 a [+ obj] : to use force to cause (something, such as a wire or pipe) to become curved
▪ bend a wire into a circle ▪ bend the cable around a wheel ▪ He bent the bow and shot an arrow from it. ▪ His glasses got bent when he dropped them.
b [no obj] : to curve out of a straight line or position
▪ The road bends [=curves, turns] to the left. ▪ The trees were bending in the wind. ▪ The branch will bend before it breaks. ▪ The branches of the fruit tree were bending under their own weight. [=were bending because they were so heavy] — sometimes used figuratively ▪ She refused to bend under pressure to change her decision. ▪ a politician accused of bending to the will of wealthy supporters [=being influenced by wealthy supporters; doing the things that are wanted by wealthy supporters] 2 a [no obj] : to move your body so that it is not straight
▪ She bent down/over/forward to pick up a piece of paper and then she straightened up again. ▪ He bent back to look up at the ceiling. ▪ bend to the left and then bend to the right ▪ bend at the waist ▪ He bent double with pain. [=he bent forward from the waist because he was in extreme pain]
b [+ obj] : to move (part of your body, such as an arm or leg) so that it is not straight
▪ bend a knee ▪ bend a leg ▪ bend an arm ▪ bend [=tilt] your head ◊In formal language, if you bend yourself to or bend your strength/energy/efforts (etc.) to/toward something (such as a job or task), you work hard in order to do it.
▪ He has bent himself [=applied himself] to the task of making the company more efficient and profitable. ▪ They are bending their efforts toward completing the job on time. ▪ They bent their minds to [=gave a lot of thought to; thought hard about] the problem.
▪ bend a wire into a circle ▪ bend the cable around a wheel ▪ He bent the bow and shot an arrow from it. ▪ His glasses got bent when he dropped them.
b [no obj] : to curve out of a straight line or position
▪ The road bends [=curves, turns] to the left. ▪ The trees were bending in the wind. ▪ The branch will bend before it breaks. ▪ The branches of the fruit tree were bending under their own weight. [=were bending because they were so heavy] — sometimes used figuratively ▪ She refused to bend under pressure to change her decision. ▪ a politician accused of bending to the will of wealthy supporters [=being influenced by wealthy supporters; doing the things that are wanted by wealthy supporters]
▪ She bent down/over/forward to pick up a piece of paper and then she straightened up again. ▪ He bent back to look up at the ceiling. ▪ bend to the left and then bend to the right ▪ bend at the waist ▪ He bent double with pain. [=he bent forward from the waist because he was in extreme pain]
b [+ obj] : to move (part of your body, such as an arm or leg) so that it is not straight
▪ bend a knee ▪ bend a leg ▪ bend an arm ▪ bend [=tilt] your head ◊In formal language, if you bend yourself to or bend your strength/energy/efforts (etc.) to/toward something (such as a job or task), you work hard in order to do it.
▪ He has bent himself [=applied himself] to the task of making the company more efficient and profitable. ▪ They are bending their efforts toward completing the job on time. ▪ They bent their minds to [=gave a lot of thought to; thought hard about] the problem.
bend a rule
: to not be strict or exact about following a rule
▪ She's not really quite old enough to be admitted as a member, but she's very close, so I think we can bend the rule(s) a little in her case and let her in now.
▪ She's not really quite old enough to be admitted as a member, but she's very close, so I think we can bend the rule(s) a little in her case and let her in now.
bend over backward — see 1backward
bend someone's ear
informal : to talk to someone for a long time
▪ He didn't really care about me, he just wanted to bend my ear about his own problems.
▪ He didn't really care about me, he just wanted to bend my ear about his own problems.
bend (the) facts
: to change facts in a dishonest way in order to deceive people
▪ a journalist who has been accused of bending the facts in order to gain support for his political agenda
▪ a journalist who has been accused of bending the facts in order to gain support for his political agenda
bend the truth
: to say something that is not true or that misleads people but that is usually not regarded as a serious or harmful lie
▪ When he tells people he's from Manhattan he's bending the truth a little since he really grew up in Brooklyn.
▪ When he tells people he's from Manhattan he's bending the truth a little since he really grew up in Brooklyn.
on bended knee also on bended knees
: in a kneeling position : in the position of someone who is kneeling on one knee
▪ He proposed to her on bended knee. = He got down on bended knee and proposed to her. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ He was forced to ask for their help on bended knee. [=he was forced to beg for their help; he was forced to ask for their help in a very humble way]
▪ He proposed to her on bended knee. = He got down on bended knee and proposed to her. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ He was forced to ask for their help on bended knee. [=he was forced to beg for their help; he was forced to ask for their help in a very humble way]
