(Australia, New Zealand) A conspicuously successful person, especially one who attracts envious hostility.
(Australia, New Zealand) A conspicuously successful person, especially one who attracts envious hostility.
1999 June 1, Polly Schneider, Australia Unbound, CIO, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=zAgAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=%22tall+poppy%22|%22tall+poppies%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&source=bl&ots=TK9iuxP0o5&sig=2vg0U-pnmF3cthm…
"tall poppy" means: A conspicuously successful person, especially one who attracts envious hostility.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary — bogan, daggy, brekkie, sheila, bach, jandals — the whole Antipodean lexicon, including outback dialect, surf and beach culture, and Sydney/Melbourne street slang.
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(Australia, New Zealand) The tendency to disparage conspicuously successful people.
The absolute pinnacle expression of Australian-ness — a moment, person, or behavior so quintessentially Australian that it could serve as a national exhibit. Used admiringly or sarcastically when something hits peak cultural stereotype.
(dated) A vain, gaudy person; someone who is shallow or superficial.
(Australia) An ice lolly (UK); a popsicle (US).
"tall poppy" means: A conspicuously successful person, especially one who attracts envious hostility.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"tall poppy" means: A conspicuously successful person, especially one who attracts envious hostility.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (New Zealand) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
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(US) High-quality (of animals).