tall poppy

American  

[tawl pop-ee] / ˈtɔl ˈpɒp i /

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.

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tall poppy British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of tall poppy

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tall poppy

But instead, in my reading, he was a tall poppy who found humility while holding onto conviction.

From New York Times ● May 3, 2024

“It gives me tall poppy syndrome a bit,” Madix says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 29, 2024

He is critical of the country's so-called "tall poppy syndrome" - a tendency to disparage high achievers.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2016

"There's this thing called tall poppy syndrome," sighs Xayalith.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2013

The tall poppy was being cut down to size by a computer program resembling a bowl of spaghetti.

From Underground by Suelette Dreyfus

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