taking down a peg
Lowering someone's status
Taking down a peg means humbling someone, reducing their self-importance or status.
The image comes from pegs on a board used to mark rank or score—moving someone down a peg lowers their position: After his public failure, he was taken down a peg.
Often appears as take down a peg or two, suggesting the humbling is deserved.
- deflatingReleasing contained gas
- burst bubbleDestroy comforting delusion
- humblingDiminishing one's pride
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- indignityHumiliating or degrading treatment
knocked off high horse · humiliated · put in place · showing up · leveling · brought low · shame · public shaming · accountability · exposure · comeuppance · eating humble pie · self-awareness · reality check · criticism · embarrassment · losing face · rebuke
taking down a pegbuilding up
Increasing gradually
puffing up · putting on a pedestal · boosting · elevating · hyping up
taking down a pegpraising
Voicing admiration
flattering · complimenting · lauding · extolling · buttering up
taking down a pegencouraging
Giving confidence or hope
validating · affirming · reassuring · emboldening · empowering
take, taking, takes, taken, taker, down, downer, downs, downed