📉 Taking Down A Peg or Two: A Nautical Humbling 📍
Definition:
To deflate or humble someone.
Origin:
This term alludes to lowering a ship’s colors, which were maneuvered by means of pegs. The higher the colors were flown, the greater the honor. The term was already being transferred by 1664, when Samuel Butler wrote in Hudibras, “Trepanned your party with intrigue, And took your grandees down a peg.” John Ray’s Proverbs (1678) defined it as “to remind upstarts of their former condition.” It is still widely used.
Related Expressions & Idioms 🗣️
- Burst Someone’s Bubble: Deflating someone’s ego or excitement.
- Bring Down to Earth: To make someone realize that they’re not as important as they think.
- Cut Someone Down to Size: To show that someone is not as impressive or important as they think.
Synonyms 🔄
- Humiliate
- Chasten
- Demote
- Depreciate
Antonyms 🔙
- Elevate
- Praise
- Exalt
- Admire
Humorous Quote 🤣
“There’s nothing like a bit of humility sprinkled on those lofty sails. Take them down a peg or two, and watch how level-headed they become.” – Anonymous sailor
Proverbs & Sayings 🗯️
- “Pride comes before a fall.”
- “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”
- “A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword.”
Literature & References 📚
- Books:
- Hudibras by Samuel Butler
- The Dictionary of Clichés by James Rogers
- Movies:
- Down with Love (2003)
- The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
- Songs:
- “Humble” by Kendrick Lamar
- “Kick Them Down” by UB40
- Poetry:
- Ode: Intimations of Immortality by William Wordsworth
- Invictus by William Ernest Henley
Quiz Time! 🧠📚
Farewell Thought 🌟
As we navigate through the seas of language, remember: Sometimes a gentle gust is all it takes to remind us to stay humble. Safe sailing! 🌊🚢
Published by M. E. Ribamhumble, October 8, 2023
