puts someone in their place
Cuts down ego
To put someone in their place is to humble them, typically by reminding them of their lower status or correcting their presumption.
The phrase implies someone has overstepped—acting too confident, too familiar, or too important—and needs to be brought back down: She really put him in his place when he tried to take credit for her work.
The "place" is metaphorical social standing.
- assertivenessConfident self-expression quality
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- directnessQuality of being straightforward
- brutal honestyUnsparing directness in speech
harsh words · dominance · embarrassment · put-down · humility · reality check · taken down a peg · sarcasm · boundaries · power dynamics · social hierarchy · comeuppance · shame · humble pie · constructive criticism · dressing down · leadership · hierarchy
puts someone in their placeflatters
Praises insincerely for advantage
builds up · puts on a pedestal · praises · pumps up · butters up
puts someone in their placeindulges
Satisfies a desire freely
enables · empowers · looks the other way · lets slide · elevates
putting, someone, places, placed, placement, placements, displace, displaced, displacement