Tall poppy syndrome

Posted by Bruce Kahl on August 09, 2001

In Reply to: Phrase/idiom meanings, derivations/origins posted by Natalie Sher on August 08, 2001

Tall poppy syndrome

If you tend to your garden and are successful in growing some flowers you will take the tallest, strongest specimen, cut it down and bring it indoors to be displayed.
It is also a tendency in some cultures to attack and "cut down" visibly successful people.

As long as diversity of values exists, there will always be people criticizing those icons that are held up as the "model" that we should inspire to be like.

• Tall poppy syndrome R. Berg 08/09/01
  • Poppies: correction--ignore previous version R. Berg 08/09/01