English Explanatory Dictionary

tall poppy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A conspicuously successful person, especially one who attracts envious hostility.
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see tall, poppy.

Pronunciation

en-au-tall poppy.ogg

Word forms

tall poppy tall poppies

Etymology

A metaphor of something conspicuous that should be lopped. First use appears c. 1710.

Derived words

cut down the tall poppy tall poppy syndrome
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