✂️ Clip Someone’s Wings, To: Deflating Egos and Grounding High Fliers 🦅
Definition and Origins
To “clip someone’s wings” means to deflate a conceited person, restricting their freedom or metaphorical flight. Contrary to initial thoughts of a military background, this phrase harks back to a more feathered origin. It comes from the ancient practice of clipping the wings of birds to prevent them from escaping. This metaphor has flown in from ancient Roman times and landed in countless literary works. Christopher Marlowe inked it famously in “The Massacre at Paris” in 1590: “Away to prison with him, I’ll clippe his winges.”
Related Expressions and Synonyms
- Cut someone down to size: To show that someone is not as important as they may think.
- Bring down a peg (or two): To humble someone who is acting too proud or overconfident.
- Knock the wind out of someone’s sails: To deflate someone’s enthusiasm abruptly.
- Burst someone’s bubble: To break someone’s innocent, misinformed, or overly optimistic view.
Antonyms and Opposite Expressions
- Build someone up: To encourage or support someone’s confidence.
- Lift someone’s spirits: To make someone feel better, especially by leaving them in a state of increased joy or hope.
- Fan the flames: To encourage someone to continue doing something with greater passion or intensity.
Humor and Wit
💡 “Clip someone’s wings? More like clipping their ‘grande’ coffee-sized ego to ‘venucci’!”
“Some people have wings so big they think they’re flying when they’re just gliding down easy street.”
Inspirational Farewell Thought:
“Confidence is a fantastic flight, but never forget the humility that keeps our feet on the ground.” — W. T. Wittywords
Suggested Literature, Songs, and Movies
- Book: “The Ego is the Enemy” by Ryan Holiday—Learn how to keep your feet grounded even after the wings of your ego taste freedom.
- Song: “Learning to Fly” by Pink Floyd—A subtle reminder that while we soar, reality is what grounds us.
- Movie: “Groundhog Day”—Comedy meets reality check, where conceit gets its wings clipped repeatedly in a hilarious manner.
- Poetry: “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley—A poetic dive into the impermanence of ego and pride.
