in tow—
1. (of a disabled vehicle) pulled along by the towing vehicle:
- The broken-down car was taken in tow by a lorry.
2. (coll.) following or accompanying smb.:
- Signaling to the doorman to park his car, he disappears into the hotel with the blond in tow.
3. under smb.’s control or guidance:
- Henry took me in tow and suffered my impatience with the conservative ways of our established institution.
on tow—(UK rare, also: under tow) = in tow 1:
- A man serving a driving ban was jailed for four months after being drunk in charge of a car on tow.