PhrasesHub

Take down a peg or two

    Definitions

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

      • humble someone
        To make someone less arrogant or proud, usually by criticizing or challenging them in some way

    Examples of Take down a peg or two

    • Sarah's success has made her a bit arrogant, so we need to take her down a peg or two.

      This example shows how the idiom is used in the context of bringing someone's pride or confidence down a little bit. Sarah's behavior has become boastful, and the speaker wants to bring her back to a more humble state.

    • The new CEO's air of superiority is making the employees uneasy, so we plan to take him down a peg or two.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe when someone is overconfident in their position or authority. The speaker is planning to reduce the CEO's self-importance to make the employees feel more comfortable around him.

    • After the team's loss, the coach felt like he had lost some respect among his players. To take him down a peg or two, the team captain spoke up and pointed out some areas where the coach could improve.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe a situation where someone's authority or reputation takes a hit. In this case, the coach's loss caused him to lose some respect among his players, and the team captain's feedback is meant to bring him back to a more level playing field.

    • The artist's ego has been getting in the way of her productivity, so we need to take her down a peg or two.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe when someone's self-importance is hampering their ability to work. The artist's ego is causing her to neglect her work, and the speaker wants to bring her down a little bit to help her refocus.

    • During the company meeting, the CEO's ego became a bit too inflated as he boasted about the company's successes. Jane, the marketing director, took him down a peg or two by reminding him of a marketing campaign that didn't go as planned last year.

      The idiom "take down a peg or two" refers to humbling someone who has become too arrogant or proud. Jane's reminder of the failed marketing campaign brought the CEO back down to earth and reminded him that everyone makes mistakes.

    • In the middle of a heated argument, Sarah accused her sister of being selfish. Emily, the accused sister, took Sarah down a peg or two by reminding her of all the times she had bailed Sarah out in the past.

      The idiom can also be used to defuse tense situations by reminding someone of past mistakes or kindnesses. Emily's reminder of the times Sarah had relied on her helped Emily regain her confidence and made Sarah realize she had been too harsh in her accusations.

    • The coach was criticizing a player's poor performance during practice. The player, feeling demoralized, took the coach down a peg or two by reminding him of the injuries he had played through during the past season.

      By reminding the coach of his own criticism during previous games, the player was able to shift the focus away from his own mistakes and towards the coach's hypocrisy. This took the coach down a peg or two and made him realize that he needed to support his players, not just criticize them.

    • During a job interview, the hiring manager seemed to think that the applicant was overqualified for the position. The applicant took the hiring manager down a peg or two by reminding him of the prior experience she had in a similar position.

      This example shows that the idiom can also be used to push back against negative assumptions. By reminding the hiring manager of her experience, the applicant was able to show that she was not overqualified, but rather a great fit for the job.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "take down a peg or two" is often used to discourage someone from pursuing a certain course of action, or to humble someone who is being too arrogant. It is a way of cautioning against pride or overconfidence, and reminding someone to stay grounded.

    In the first meaning, the intention is to discourage someone from pursuing a certain activity, by advising them that it will not lead to positive outcomes. This can be used in a variety of situations, such as in a work setting or in personal relationships, to caution someone against making a mistake.

    In the second meaning, the intention is to humble someone who is being too proud or arrogant. This can be used to remind someone to stay humble and not to boast too much about their achievements.

    Overall, the idiom "take down a peg or two" is a reminder to stay grounded and not to let pride or overconfidence get in the way of success or relationships.

    Origin of "Take down a peg or two"

    The origin of the idiom "take down a peg or two" can be traced back to nautical terminology. In sailing ships, the pegs were used to hoist and secure the sails. If a sailor was being too arrogant or proud, the captain might order for the sailor's flag to be lowered a peg or two, as a way of humbling them. This action would physically lower the sailor's position and status on the ship, serving as a reminder to stay humble and respectful.

    Over time, the idiom has evolved to be used in various contexts outside of sailing, but the original meaning of humbling someone or reminding them to stay grounded remains the same. The idiom continues to be a popular way of cautioning against pride and overconfidence, and reminding people to stay humble and respectful.