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"put oneself on a pedestal"

Posted by Bob on June 08, 2006

In Reply to: "Put oneself on a pedestal" Posted by Joe Kaupp on June 08, 2006

: Can anyone tell me the meaning of the phrase "put oneself on a pedestal". Orginally I thought it meant to put yourself in a situation that could easily turn out badly, but that seems to be wrong.

Pedestals are where you put big marble statues of famous people, gods, and other such hotshots. If you put yourself on a pedestal, you're rising above your station, putting on airs, thinking too much of yourself, and headed (like Ozymandius) for a fall.

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