cuts down the tall poppy

A form of cut down the tall poppy — To belittle or undermine someone who is perceived as superior or more successful and accomplished.

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Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of cut down the tall poppy
Cite this entry
APA

cuts down the tall poppy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cuts%20down%20the%20tall%20poppy

MLA

“cuts down the tall poppy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cuts%20down%20the%20tall%20poppy. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cuts down the tall poppy,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cuts%20down%20the%20tall%20poppy.

Source: cuts down the tall poppy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.