cutting 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. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of cut down the tall poppy
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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