to cut down the tall poppy

9.9

To criticize someone who stands out to make them seem less successful

idiom

Australian

: criticar al que destaca

The media sometimes cut down the tall poppy when covering stories about successful celebrities.

Examples

Some people love to cut down the tall poppy rather than celebrate their achievements.
Why do people always cut down the tall poppy in our industry?
In this environment, anyone who excels risks being cut down the tall poppy by their peers.
Don't cut down the tall poppy just because you feel threatened!
Some people love to cut down the tall poppy rather than celebrate their achievements.
In this environment, anyone who excels risks being cut down the tall poppy by their peers.
The media sometimes cut down the tall poppy when covering stories about successful celebrities.

Synonyms

to take down

vsto cut down the tall poppy

Informal

144 5.1

To say cruel things to make people think less of someone

targets successful people out of envy or to promote equality

to cut down to size

vsto cut down the tall poppy

Informal

3 6.7

To make someone less proud by showing they are not as good as they think

aims at those who stand out for success, often from envy

to knock down a peg

vsto cut down the tall poppy

Informal

3 7.6

Make someone feel less proud by criticizing or embarrassing them

focuses on attacking success rather than only pride

to knock off one's perch

vsto cut down the tall poppy

Informal

1 7.9

To defeat the person or team at the top and take their place

targets prominent people through criticism rather than direct defeat

to cut others down

vsto cut down the tall poppy

Offensive

7.0

To say things that make other people feel small

targets especially those who stand out, often from envy or for equality

Antonyms

support

∞ 1.0

Help for a person or idea

to praise

331 1.0

To tell a person that you admire or approve of them

How Harsh

to vilify

43 7.9

to smear

55 6.1

to undermine

270 6.8

to cut down the tall poppy

Australian

9.9

to disparage

28 7.7

to belittle

45 5.0

to criticize

701 3.3

Surface Forms

cut down the tall poppy infinitive

cutting down the tall poppy present participle

cuts down the tall poppy third person singular

cut down the tall poppy past

cut down the tall poppy past participle

Morphology

cut + down + the + tall + poppy

The verb 'cut down' combined with 'tall poppy' yields a clear metaphor — cutting down something tall suggests bringing an outstanding person down — so a learner who knows the constituents could infer it means undermining or criticizing someone who stands out. However, the expression rests on a culturally specific idiom ("tall poppy syndrome") and carries evaluative/envious nuances that are not fully predictable from the words alone, making the meaning only partly transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The idiom cut down the tall poppy comes from a simple garden image: a gardener cutting the highest flower so it does not stand above the others, with the tall poppy being cut down. So it now means 'to criticize or bring down someone who stands out because of success'.