Etymology

the nail that sticks out gets hammered down

Today it means: Those who are too different or conspicuous get criticized or sanctioned by others. Full definition →

Japanese 出る釘は打たれる
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The story

  1. Japanese · calque of出る釘は打たれる
  2. English todaythe nail that sticks out gets hammered down

Calque of Japanese 出る釘は打たれる (deru kugi wa utareru)

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.