If the person bows in front of the idol but has in mind that he is bowing to Hashem (sort of how Yaakov Avinu bowed in front of Esav — no Issur anyhow) he did not actually transgress Avoda Zara and it isn’t punishable.
Let’s fix that up a bit. This is correct only if bowing is not actually its Avoda. If bowing is its Avoda then he has to bring a Chattas but there is no Misa.