put (one) in (one's) place

(redirected from puts me in my place)

put (one) in (one's) place

To humble or lower the dignity of one; to make one aware that they are not as important, respected, influential, etc., as they think. The teacher really put John in his place, scolding him so harshly that he burst into tears. I hope this guilty verdict puts that rat of a CEO in his place.

put (oneself) in (someone else's) place

and put oneself in someone else's shoes

to allow oneself to see or experience something from someone else's point of view. Put yourself in someone else's place, and see how it feels. I put myself in Tom's shoes and realized that I would have made exactly the same choice.

put one in one's place

to rebuke someone; to remind one of one's (lower) rank or station. The boss put me in my place for criticizing her. Then her boss put her in her place for being rude.

put someone in his or her place

1. Rebuke someone, remind someone of his or her position, as in Alice is entirely too rude; it's time you put her in her place. The noun place here denotes one's rank or position. [Mid-1900s]

2. Also, put oneself in someone's place. Imagine being someone else, as in Just put yourself in my place-how would you deal with it? [Mid-1600s]

put someone in their place

COMMON If you put someone in their place, you show them that they are less important or clever than they think they are. In a few words she had put him in his place. He had put me in my place — shamed me, actually.

put somebody in their ˈplace

remind somebody forcefully of their real position in society or at work: That young man needs putting in his place. He behaves as if he were the manager here.

put (someone) in (someone's) place

To lower the dignity of (someone); humble.