poppy

(as) red as a poppy

Extremely flushed and red, especially in the face, as from embarrassment, anger, or physical strain. My father was as red as a poppy by the time we reached the top of the hill. I was afraid he might have a heart attack or something! Oh, Mike definitely likes you—he turns red as a poppy every time you're around! Mom's face went red as a poppy when I confessed that I was trying to sneak out of the house to go to a party.

See also: poppy, red

tall poppy

One who has a lot of wealth, fame, or social prominence. She may be a tall poppy, as you describe her, but she never flaunts her wealth or treats others with disrespect.

See also: poppy, tall

tall poppy syndrome

The tendency to criticize or otherwise speak negatively about one who has a lot of wealth, fame, or social prominence. In Australia, someone who is successful in this way is known as a "tall poppy," and the disparagement inherent to tall poppy syndrome seeks to cut the tall poppy down. Primarily heard in Australia, New Zealand. That star never flaunts her wealth or treats others with disrespect, so I don't know why the tall poppy syndrome is so glaring in media coverage about her. Now that I'm doing so well in school, I'm experiencing tall poppy syndrome with some jealous classmates.

See also: poppy, syndrome, tall

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*red as a cherry

 and *red as a poppy; *red as a rose; *red as a ruby; *red as blood

bright red. (*Also: as ~.) When she came in from ice-skating, Clara's nose was as red as a cherry. When her boss praised her in front of the whole office, Emily turned red as a poppy. I would like to make a dress out of that beautiful velvet that is red as a rose. Jane painted her fingernails with polish as red as a ruby. I want to have my car painted red as blood.

See also: cherry, red

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

a tall poppy

a privileged or distinguished person.

The Roman tyrant Tarquin was reputed to have struck off the heads of poppies as a gruesomely graphic demonstration of the way in which the important men of a captured city should be treated. In recent years, the term tall poppy syndrome has also developed, referring to a tendency to discredit or disparage people who have become rich, famous, or socially prominent.

1991 Lynn Barber Mostly Men Journalists on the whole tend to be egalitarian-minded and contemptous of tall poppies, but I prefer the prima donnas.

See also: poppy, tall

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017