There are some idioms with the same sense "to show someone that they are not as good as they thought they were, to make a pompous or self-important person aware of his insignificance":
To take/ knock/ pull/ bring someone down a peg/ notch (or two);
To put/ keep someone in his (proper) place (show someone his place);
To cut someone down to size.
Are these phrases common in your country?
Do you use other idioms with the same sense?
Many Thanks for all your replies!
Yes, but probably more so in Br Eng than in Am Eng. There is less consciousness of class in British society now than when this sketch was written - YouTube - BRITISH CLASS SYSTEM (Frost Report) - but a British person is still generally more comfortable with the idea of 'knowing your place' than his/her US cousin.
All of them are known here.
Put someone in his/her place is pretty popular.
In Canada these expressions are used when talking about someone who is arrogant or rude. I would agree with BobK that it isn't often used to in reference to a social class in the States, even less so in Canada.
Not a teacher.
Last edited by SanMar; 27-Apr-2011 at 04:55. Reason: typo