knock someone off their perch
Unseat the leader
To knock someone off their perch is to unseat them from a position of superiority or dominance.
The image is of a bird dislodged from its roosting spot.
It implies bringing down someone who has grown comfortable or complacent at the top: The upstart company finally knocked the industry giant off their perch.
Often carries a note of satisfaction at seeing the mighty humbled.
- unsettleCause unease or anxiety
- take down a pegLower someone's self-importance
- dethroneRemove from sovereignty
- overthrowForcible removal from power
- toppleCause to fall
depose · humble · eat humble pie · cut down to size · supplant · top dog · deflate · defeat · displace · outshine · surpass · usurp · remove · shame · fall from grace · eclipse · downfall · upset
knocks, knocked, knocking, knocker, knockers, someone, perches, perched, perching