TALL POPPY SYNDROME Definition & Meaning

tall poppy syndrome

[ tawl pop-ee sin-drohm, sin-druhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Chiefly Australian, New Zealand Informal

a tendency to begrudge, resent, or mock people of great success, talent, or status:
In our culture of tall poppy syndrome, the more I succeed, the more people try to cut me down.
a tendency to downplay one’s own achievements or talent in order to avoid the resentment and mockery of others:
When we observe these students suppressing their natural and exceptional gifts, we are looking at the tall poppy syndrome.

tall poppy syndrome

noun

informal.
a tendency to disparage any person who has achieved great prominence or wealth

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of tall poppy syndrome¹

First recorded in 1980–85; tall poppy ( def )

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“It gives me tall poppy syndrome a bit,” Madix says.

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"We should be acknowledging Eddie's achievements as a great Aussie export. There's too much tall poppy syndrome in that comment."

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No, I can understand because of course in the space genre, you are completely outside the reality, but whereas we have one foot in reality, as indeed many TV shows do, but I think to get exercised about a piece fiction, particularly in the UK, there's a tall poppy syndrome.

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“We call it ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome.’

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That may well have been the final nail in the coffin, as Helvetica became victim to tall poppy syndrome.

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