take (someone) down a peg (or two)

take (someone) down a peg (or two)

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

take someone down a peg (or two)

 and take someone down a notch (or two); knock someone down a peg (or two); knock someone down a notch (or two)
Fig. to reprimand someone who is acting too arrogant. The teacher's scolding took Bob down a notch or two. He was so rude that someone was bound to knock him down a peg or two.
See also: down, peg, take
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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

take (someone) down a peg

To reduce the pride of; humble.
See also: down, peg, take
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • take the starch out of
  • take the starch out of (one)
  • take the starch out of someone
  • bring (someone) down a notch (or two)
  • pull (someone) down a notch (or two)
  • pull (someone) down a peg (or two)
  • take (one) down a notch (or two)
  • take (one) down a peg (or two)
  • take down a peg
  • take someone down a peg or two