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Phrase(s): whittle someone down to size
Fig. to reduce someone’s ego; to cause someone to have better, more respectful behavior. (Fig. on whittle something down (to size).) • After a few days at camp, the counselors had whittled young Walter down to size. • It took some doing, but they whittled him down to size.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs