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Glite Dictionary
to clip the wings

to clip the wings

1 7.2
To limit someone's freedom, power, or plans
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : limitar las alas
  • The parents wanted to clip the wings of their rebellious teenager to ensure he followed the rules.

Is this why he has sent Nazis to Italy to clip the wings of Belisarius?

Examples

  • The new regulations are designed to clip the wings of companies that disregard environmental laws.

  • The image of civilization as conversation does not clip the wings of philosophy alone.

    Academic text (1991)

  • And the fallout from this has clipped the wings of Yum's global success over the last few years.

  • After his poor performance, the coach decided to clip the wings of the star player, limiting his playing time.

Synonyms

to restrain
vsto clip the wings
72 4.6

Keep strong feelings under control so you do not act on them

aims at reducing wider freedom or potential rather than momentary control
to constrain
vsto clip the wings
64 5.6

To limit what someone can do or how they can act

refers to reducing general freedom or potential rather than specific options
to shackle
vsto clip the wings
35 6.2

To restrain someone with chains or limit their freedom

is more metaphorical, stressing lowering power or future possibilities
to clamp
vsto clip the wings
24 5.8

Force strict rules on people or groups

refers to reducing freedom or potential generally rather than abrupt punishment
to tie down
vsto clip the wings
17 4.7

To limit someone's freedom because they have responsibilities

focuses more on lowering power or potential than on imposition of duties
to clamp down on
vsto clip the wings
13 5.3

Take strong action to stop something bad or illegal

is about lowering freedom or potential, not primarily about enforcement measures
to box in
vsto clip the wings
8 4.7

To stop a person or thing from moving, acting freely and making choices

is wider, applying to general reduction of freedom or potential
to tie someone's hands
vsto clip the wings
1 4.8

Stop someone from acting or making decisions

describes broader limitation of power or potential rather than only decision limits
to bind hand and foot
vsto clip the wings
  • Informal
1 8.0

To stop someone completely from acting freely

means reducing freedom or potential but not always total immobilization
to clip someone's wings
vsto clip the wings
  • Informal
7.5

Stop someone from using their power or doing what they want

is the common idiomatic form meaning the same restriction in general use
to enfetter
vsto clip the wings
  • Archaic
9.9

To limit someone's freedom or creativity

focuses more broadly on reducing overall freedom, power, or potential

Antonyms

to empower
157 4.2

Give someone the power and confidence to do something

to liberate
104 4.3

Set someone free from prison or unfair control

How Restricted

to paralyzing
  • US
5.1
to cripple
72 6.3
to clip the wings
  • Informal
1 7.2
to hamper
47 4.2
curb
22 4.0
limit
738 1.4

Surface Forms

clip the wings infinitive

Morphology

clip + the + wings

The meaning ‘to restrict someone’s freedom or ability’ follows directly from combining 'clip' (to cut/trim) with 'wings' (metaphorical means of flying/ability); the image of cutting wings making flight impossible is an obvious, conventional metaphor. This mapping is common across many languages (e.g. Spanish 'cortar las alas'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words and basic metaphor of 'wings' for ability will readily infer the idiomatic meaning.

Etymology

The idiom clip the wings comes from the simple image of clipping a bird's wings so it cannot fly. So, to clip someone's wings means to 'limit' their freedom, power, or chance to succeed.