put to shame

put (someone or something) to shame

1. To disgrace, embarrass, or shame someone or something. The neighborhood is going to start putting people to shame who don't pick up after their pets. These giant banks were all culpable for the economic crash, and I think we should put them to shame for it.
2. To outclass, outshine, or outperform someone or something. I thought I was a pretty good tennis player, but you put me to shame! The fledgling technology company's debut smartphone puts the rest of the competition to shame.
See also: put, shame
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

put someone to shame

 
1. to embarrass someone; to make someone ashamed. I put him to shame by telling everyone about his bad behavior.
2. to show someone up. Your excellent efforts put us all to shame.
See also: put, shame
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

put to shame

Outdo, eclipse, as in Jane's immaculate kitchen puts mine to shame. This idiom modifies the literal sense of put to shame, that is, "disgrace someone," to the much milder "cause to feel inferior." [Mid-1800s]
See also: put, shame
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

put somebody/something to ˈshame

be much better than somebody/something: This new stereo puts our old one to shame.
See also: put, shame, somebody, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

put to shame

1. To cause to feel shame.
2. To outdo thoroughly; surpass: Your kindness has put the rest of us to shame.
See also: put, shame
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • put (someone or something) to shame
  • put somebody/something to shame
  • embarrass
  • embarrass (one) about (something)
  • embarrass about
  • shame on (one)
  • shame on you
  • shame on you, him, etc.
  • embarrass with
  • embarrass (someone) with (something)
References in periodicals archive
'After reviewing it, I evaluated the BN manifesto as the best and managed to put to shame the PH (Pakatan Harapan) manifesto.
BN's GE14 manifesto 'best in history', minister says
Under no circumstances should their wards be put to shame. It is unfair.
Abu Dhabi schools can't dismiss students over pending fees
To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.'
CROSS CONTROVERSY: Did God forsake Jesus?
"They put to shame our governments, who wring their hands in false sympathy, while continuing to obstruct the refugees at the borders, prolong their ordeal in detention centres, and prevent them establishing normal secure lives by withholding civil rights and means of support.
Protest planned for Market Place today
Other cities Coventry put to shame included Rome, Lagos and Algiers.
hotter than Cairo and Mumbai
Ramadoss said both these were ignorant and foolish utterances without any scientific basis and said the Centre should stop it "as the country should not be put to shame." He noted that globally acclaimed institutions, including the Indian Council of Medical Research, had done hundreds of studies linking tobacco use to not just cancer, but to diseases related to kidney, lungs and brain as well.
Ramadoss wants Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene on pictorial warnings on tobacco products
Put to shame yet again by Germans FURTHER to last week's column regarding the structural issues that hamper the development of English football, one People Sport reader was moved to point out the licensing system that clubs in Germany must sign up to.
Put to shame yet again by Germans
The country's grocery giants were put to shame by discount chains who continued to gobble up business, industry expert Kantar revealed.
NOT SO SUPER MARKET GIANTS
The country's grocery giants were put to shame by discount chains which continued to gobble up business, industry expert Kantar revealed.
NOT SO SUPER MARKET GIANTS
I often got put to shame by the others in the movie.
Dev Patel needed energy drinks to keep active on set
In the history of the game, his country was put to shame.
Reducing ban would send wrong signal
Delightful The Leicester pack will wonder how they lost the game when they had so much the better of the forward contest but the Tigers' backs were put to shame by the impressive counter-attacking efforts of their counterparts, who scored two delightful tries from scraps of possession.
Tigers pack let down by bad backs.
1 Corinthians 1 encourages us: "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty ...
THOUGHT for the DAY
Phillips believes Nadal has put to shame the players who specialise on clay but each year dodge the grass court season and Wimbledon, in particular.
Nadal praised
By organising a transparent election within the party, Plaid put to shame those who are happy to carry on in the old, unsatisfactory ways.
Time for Ieuan to act on 'second chamber' insult; Wastern mail COMMENT