tall poppy syndrome

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

noun

, Chiefly Australian, New Zealand Informal

1. 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.

2. 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tall poppy syndrome¹

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

Example Sentences

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From BBC

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.

From Salon

“We call it ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome.’

From Washington Post

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

From The Guardian