Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

take-down-a-peg

idiom
/teɪk daʊn ə pɛɡ/
Definition
To reduce someone’s confidence or status; to humble someone who is acting too arrogantly or overconfident.
Examples
  • After boasting about his skills, she managed to take him down a peg during the competition.
  • His friends decided it was time to take him down a peg after he bragged about his promotion for the third time that week.
Meaning
This phrase is often used when someone’s pride is brought down to a more realistic level, often through criticism or an unexpected situation.
Synonyms
  • humble
  • deflate
  • bring down to earth
  • take down a notch