Meanings
proverb
- idiomaticThose who are too different or conspicuous get criticized or sanctioned by others.
Origin
- Japanese出る釘は打たれる
- Englishthe nail that sticks out gets hammered down
Calque of Japanese 出る釘は打たれる (deru kugi wa utareru)
More words from Japanese
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 樹大招風 /树大招风, 槍打出頭鳥 /枪打出头鸟
- 樹大招風 /树大招风 (shùdàzhāofēng)Translations
- 槍打出頭鳥 /枪打出头鸟 (qiāng dǎ chūtóuniǎo)Translations
French le clou qui dépasse se prend le marteau
- le clou qui dépasse se prend le marteauTranslations
German vorstehende Nägel werden eingeschlagen, wer den Kopf zu weit aus dem Loch steckt, kann ihn leicht verlieren
- vorstehende Nägel werden eingeschlagenTranslations
- wer den Kopf zu weit aus dem Loch steckt, kann ihn leicht verlierenTranslations
Japanese 出る杭は打たれる
- 出る杭は打たれる (deru kui wa utareru)Translations
Korean 모난 돌이 정 맞는다
- 모난 돌이 정 맞는다 (monan dor-i jeong manneunda)Translations
Polish wystający gwóźdź trzeba wbić
- wystający gwóźdź trzeba wbićTranslations
Portuguese prego que se destaca, leva martelada
- prego que se destaca, leva marteladaTranslations
Spanish el martillo siempre golpea el clavo que más sobresale
- el martillo siempre golpea el clavo que más sobresaleTranslations
Cite this entry
APA
the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20nail%20that%20sticks%20out%20gets%20hammered%20down
MLA
“the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20nail%20that%20sticks%20out%20gets%20hammered%20down. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20nail%20that%20sticks%20out%20gets%20hammered%20down.
Source: the nail that sticks out gets hammered down on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.