knocking down a peg
Cutting to size
To knock someone down a peg is to humble them, deflating their pride or self-importance.
The image is of a peg on a measuring stick marking someone's status—lowering it brings them back to earth.
Usually applied to people considered arrogant or too big for their britches: That loss knocked him down a peg.
Also *take down a peg* or *knock down a peg or two*.
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- humbleUnassuming about oneself
- criticismJudgment of faults
- modestyAbsence of vanity
- correctionFixing of mistakes
put in place · status · pecking order · realism · reality check · grounding · hierarchy · fall from grace · self-awareness · power dynamics · comeuppance · rebuke · deflation · bruised ego · social norms · shame · feedback · cutting remarks
knocking down a pegputting on a pedestal
Revering someone unrealistically
promoting · elevating · exalting · building up · boosting
knocking down a peggassing up
Adding fuel to vehicle
hyping up · pumping up · puffing up · flattering · buttering up
knock, knocking, knocked, knocks, knocker, knockdown, down, downed, downing