World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesPut someone in their place
/pʊt ˈsʌm.wʌn ɪn ðeər pleɪs/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
To humble someone who is behaving arrogantly or presumptuously, reminding them of their proper, subordinate, or realistic status.
"When he started bragging about his minor achievements, she quickly put him in his place with a factual reminder of his mistakes." - 2
To rebuke or reprimand an individual for overstepping social boundaries or being disrespectful.
"The manager had to put the unruly customer in his place to maintain order in the store."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
The idiom originates from the historical notion of social hierarchy and assigned stations where every person supposedly had a designated 'place' in society. Emerging in British and American English during the 18th to 19th centuries, it shifted from literal spatial arrangements to metaphorical humbling of someone perceived as arrogant or overstepping their bounds.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Put someone in their place" is said worldwide
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remettre quelqu'un à sa place
Transliteration: rəmɛtʁ kɛl.kœ̃ a sa plas
"Elle a su le remettre à sa place après son commentaire grossier."
jemanden in die Schranken weisen
Transliteration: ˈjɛmandən ɪn diː ˈʃʁaŋkn̩ ˈvaɪzn̩
"Es war an der Zeit, ihn in die Schranken zu weisen."
mettere qualcuno al suo posto
Transliteration: ˈmɛt.te.re kwal.ku.no al ˈsu.o ˈpɔs.to
"Ha dovuto mettere quel bullo al suo posto."
poner a alguien en su lugar
Transliteration: poˈneɾ a alˈgjen en su luˈɣaɾ
"Alguien tenía que ponerlo en su lugar por su arrogancia."
colocar alguém no seu lugar
Transliteration: ko.luˈkaɾ awˈgẽj nu sew luˈɡaɾ
"Ela soube como colocá-lo no seu lugar."
औकात याद दिलाना
Transliteration: aukaat yaad dilaana
"उसने अपनी बड़बोलेपन से सबको अपनी औकात याद दिला दी।"
给某人点颜色看
Transliteration: gěi mǒu rén diǎn yán sè kàn
"她用事实狠狠地挫了挫他的锐气。"
기선을 제압하다
Transliteration: giseoneul jeaphada
"그녀는 오만한 그의 기선을 제압했다."
ギャフンと言わせる
Transliteration: gyafun to iwaseru
"彼は彼女にギャフンと言わされた。"
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