tall poppy
Americannoun
noun
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He believes the UK suffers from "tall poppy syndrome" – where successful people are resented – and a negative culture.
From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2025
“He’s a main chancer. But he also can’t express himself because he’s a mummy’s boy, and he’s far too tall, bless him. He suffers from the most obscene version of the tall poppy syndrome.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2020
Something very Australian about the band was that they were constantly self-effacing — perhaps trying to pre-empt the tall poppy syndrome that comes with success?
From New York Times ● Jun. 21, 2017
After dismissing suggestions that Rooney was unfit, overweight and unprofessional as "rubbish", Ferguson suggested that the 27-year-old is a victim of tall poppy syndrome.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 9, 2013
He was undoubtedly a repository of treasures such as Deszip, and he was also a tall poppy.
From Underground by Suelette Dreyfus
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
