tall poppy

[ tawl pop-ee ]

noun

, Chiefly Australian, New Zealand Informal

1. a person of great success, talent, or status:

   They are the best and the brightest, our very own tall poppies.

tall poppy

noun

1. informal.
   a person who has a high salary or is otherwise prominent

Word History and Origins

Origin of tall poppy¹

First recorded in 1980–85; from an anecdote about Thrasybulus, tyrant of Miletus, 7th century b.c., related in Herodotus

Word History and Origins

Origin of tall poppy¹

perhaps from Tarquin's decapitation of the tallest poppies in his garden, to indicate the fate of the most prominent citizens of Gabii

Example Sentences

This is very common in minority communities where, you know, there’s a tall poppy syndrome where someone emerges and seeks to represent people, they have to be cut down pretty quickly.

From Washington Blade