Phrase guide

tall poppy

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A conspicuously successful person, especially one who attracts envious hostility.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, New-Zealand

Examples

  • 1999 June 1, Polly Schneider, Australia Unbound, CIO, page 43, Like many thriving, young Australian execs, Simpson has to be wary of being construed a “tall poppy,” a cultural label placed on people who flaunt their success, based on the idea that a poppy taller than the others gets chopped down.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see tall, poppy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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