World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionariesrabattre le caquet de quelqu'un
Native Script:rabattre le caquet
Pronunciation / Transliteration: ra-bat lə ka-kə də sɛl-kœ̃
"Il a fallu lui rabattre le caquet après son discours arrogant."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
To prove that someone is not as important, clever, or successful as they think they are, thereby humbling their ego.
"After bragging about his unbeatable skills, the newcomer was quickly cut down to size in the first chess match." - 2
To reduce something to a more manageable or appropriate scale.
"The editor helped cut the massive manuscript down to size for publication."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Originating in the 19th century, the idiom likely derives from tailoring and carpentry, where raw materials are physically measured, trimmed, and cut down to fit standard dimensions. Metaphorically, it evolved to describe humbling someone whose ego or ambition exceeds appropriate boundaries, reducing them to their true, more realistic proportions.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Cut down to size"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Cut down to size" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
rabattre le caquet de quelqu'un
Transliteration: ra-bat lə ka-kə də sɛl-kœ̃
Script: rabattre le caquet
"Il a fallu lui rabattre le caquet après son discours arrogant."
jemandem die Stutzflügel stutzen
Transliteration: ye-man-dəm diː ˈʃtʊtsˌflyː-ɡəl ˈʃtʊt-tsən
"Es war an der Zeit, ihm seine Stutzflügel zu stutzen."
ridimensionare
Transliteration: ri-di-men-sio-na-re
"La sconfitta è servita a ridimensionare il suo ego."
bajar los humos
Transliteration: ba-xar los ˈu-mos
"Alguien tenía que bajarle los humos a ese fanfarrón."
cortar as asas
Transliteration: kuʁ-ˈtaɾ az ˈa-zɐs
"O professor teve que cortar as asas do aluno presunçoso."
अहंकार तोड़ना
Transliteration: ahankar todna
"घमंडी व्यक्ति का अहंकार समय ने तोड़ दिया।"
压制傲气
Transliteration: yāzhì àoqì
"这场比赛彻底压制了他的傲气。"
기선을 제압하다
Transliteration: giseoneul jeapada
"그의 오만한 태도를 기선을 제압하여 꺾어놓았다."
鼻を折る
Transliteration: hana o oru
"彼の鼻を折るために、私はその挑戦を受けた。"
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