to knock down a peg

Examples

• All

• And just to rub it in, Obama knocked Israel down a peg, saying it was only "one of our closest allies in the region."

  Blog text (1)

• I think it's interesting to note that almost all the comments that knock him down a peg say things like "you sound like a **31;498;TOOLONG" or "you come off like a **31;531;TOOLONG," and NOT that he "IS an **31;564;TOOLONG."

  Blog text (2)

• When John Wayne would get a bit too tall in the saddle while shooting THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALENCE, John Ford would knock him down a peg or two by asking Wayne what it felt like co-starring with a genuine war hero like Jimmy Stewart.

  Blog text (30)

• After boasting about his achievements, his friends decided to knock him down a peg by reminding him of his past failures.

• He thought he was the best player on the team until the coach knocked him down a peg with some tough feedback.

Synonyms

H

to humiliate

vsto knock down a peg

• Offensive

414 6.1

Make someone feel very ashamed and foolish, often in front of others

aims specifically to reduce pride rather than only cause shame

T

to take down

vsto knock down a peg

• Informal

144 5.1

To say cruel things to make people think less of someone

is focused on reducing pride rather than only attacking reputation

H

to humble

vsto knock down a peg

58 5.3

To make someone feel less proud or important

reduces self-importance often by criticism or humiliation rather than gentle change

P

to put down

vsto knock down a peg

• Offensive

55 4.9

To make someone feel unimportant by saying bad things about them

aims to lower pride more directly, not just insult or demean

C

to come down

vsto knock down a peg

• Informal

37 5.9

To criticize someone strongly

may lower pride but is more about strong criticism than intentional humiliation

T

to talk down to

vsto knock down a peg

• Offensive

15 6.6

Speak to someone as if they are less smart or important

focuses more on lowering self-importance than merely showing superiority

T

to talk down

vsto knock down a peg

• Offensive

14 6.7

To speak to someone as if they are less smart or less important

often aims to reduce pride through humiliation rather than only condescending tone

C

to cut down to size

vsto knock down a peg

• Informal

3 6.7

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

does similar reduction but may rely more on verbal criticism

D

to do down

vsto knock down a peg

• Offensive

3 8.6

To say bad things about someone to make them look worse

intends to reduce self-importance rather than only express unfair criticism

K

to knock off one's perch

vsto knock down a peg

• Informal

1 7.9

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

focuses more on lowering pride than on changing someone’s status

C

to cut others down

vsto knock down a peg

• Offensive

7.0

To say things that make other people feel small

specifically targets reducing pride or self-importance rather than general belittling

H

to hurt pride

vsto knock down a peg

5.5

To make someone feel embarrassed and less confident

targets reducing pride or self-importance rather than only causing hurt

Antonyms

P

praise

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

B

boost

153 2.7

An increase in amount or success that helps something

How Humiliated

to humiliate

• Offensive

414 6.1

to knock down a peg

• Informal

3 7.6

to reprimand

• Formal

33 6.1

to criticize

701 3.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology