bring (one) down a peg (or two)

bring (one) down a peg (or two)

To reduce or damage one's ego or pride; to humble or humiliate one. I'm really glad that pompous oaf lost his court case, maybe that will bring him down a peg or two. It's about time that someone brought Sarah down a peg. Her snotty rich-kid arrogance is intolerable!
See also: bring, down, peg
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

ˌbring/ˌtake somebody ˈdown a peg (or two)

(informal) make somebody realize that they are not as good, important, etc. as they think they are: He didn’t win first prize after all. That’ll bring him down a peg or two. It’s time that somebody took that woman down a peg or two. She behaves as if she were the queen.
See also: bring, down, peg, somebody, take
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • bring/take somebody down a peg
  • take (one) down a notch (or two)
  • take (one) down a peg (or two)
  • take down a notch
  • take down a peg
  • take someone down a peg or two
  • knock (one) down a notch (or two)
  • knock (one) down a peg (or two)
  • bring (someone) down a notch (or two)
  • take the starch out of (one)