fall off (one's) perch
slang To die. I hope not to fall off my perch until I'm old and gray. A: "Yikes, why did I think Ed had already fallen off his perch?" B: "Probably because he's about 100 years old?" My mom is terrified of flying because she's convinced that's how she'll fall off her perch.
knock (one) off (one's) pedestal
1. To cause one to lose a leading or prominent position. At the end of the day, I think voters just wanted to knock the prime minister off his pedestal.
2. 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 knock him off his pedestal. It's about time someone knocked Sarah off her pedestal. Her snotty, rich-kid arrogance is intolerable!
knock (one) off (one's) perch
To cause one to fall from a leading or prominent position. At the end of the day, I think voters just wanted to knock the prime minister off his perch.
perch on (something)
1. To remain seated, poised, or balanced atop something. Often used in passive constructions. The cat perched on the limb of the tree, coolly watching the unfolding drama beneath it. I was perched on the beam for what felt like ages trying to keep the cables secure while the foreman ran for the correct bolts.
2. To cause someone or something to remain seated, poised, or balanced atop something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "perch" and "on." I perched the vase on the mantelpiece. She perched the child on the stool while she prepared lunch.
3. To be in a position of royal power. Almost always followed by the word "one's/the throne." The king takes vile pleasure in deciding the fates of his subjects as he remains perched on his throne. She perched on the throne following the death of her husband, the late King Edmund the Eighth.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
perch on something
1. [for a bird] to stand at rest on something. A robin perched on the branch by my window. We saw a parrot perched on some kind of flowering tree.
2. to sit or balance on something. I can't perch on this fence forever. Let's go. Sam was perched on the bicycle and he looked very uncomfortable.
perch someone or something on something
to place, seat, or stand someone or something in a place. She perched the little girl on the edge of the tub. Walter perched his hat on the top shelf.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
fall off the perch
or fall off your perch
BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED, INFORMALIf someone falls off the perch or falls off their perch, they die. Note: A perch is a pole, branch or other place where a bird sits to rest. He fell off the perch years ago. Note: Other verbs such as drop or topple can be used instead of fall. He'll topple off his perch one morning. You know how it is. Note: This expression is used humorously.
knock someone off their perch
BRITISHIf you knock a person or organization off their perch, you cause them to lose their important or leading position. Note: A perch is a pole, branch or other place where a bird sits to rest. For the regional firms this is an excellent time to knock London firms off their perch. Note: You can also say that a person or organization falls off their perch if they lose their important or leading position. There'll be no end of people ready to laugh when you fall off your perch. Note: You can use topple instead of fall. As one after another of the star companies of the 1980s fall on hard times, their high-flying executives are toppling from their perches.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012