take down a notch
Reduce someone's arrogance
To take someone down a notch is to humble them or reduce their inflated sense of self-importance.
The image is of a position on a scale or ranking being lowered: He needed to be taken down a notch after that arrogant speech.
Also appears as take down a peg or knock down a notch.
The phrase usually implies the humbling is deserved.
- bring to termsForce to negotiate settlement
- chastenDiscipline to improve
- deflateRelease air from
- burst someone's bubbleDispel a comforting illusion
- put someone in their placeAssert superiority over another
put in place · humble · eat humble pie · demote · check · belittle · deprecate · dethrone · clip someone's wings · mortify · bring low · undermine · subdue · lower · shame · diminish · degrade · embarrass
take down a notchbuild up
Grow by increments
put on a pedestal · boost · puff up · gas up · hype up
take down a notchpraise
Expression of approval
flatter · compliment · butter up · fawn over · kiss up to
take, takes, taken, taking, taker, down, downer, downs, downed