clip someone's wings: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  USUKWorldwideinformalfigurative
  • To restrict or reduce someone’s freedom, power, authority, or ability to act; to curtail someone's opportunities or influence.

  Examples

  Beta

  • The new policy really clipped the employees’ wings by limiting their ability to work remotely.

    La nueva política realmente recortó la libertad de los empleados al limitar su capacidad de trabajar a distancia.

  • If the government clips your wings too much, it’s hard to innovate or grow your business.

    Si el gobierno te recorta demasiado las alas, es difícil innovar o hacer crecer tu negocio.

  • She felt like her parents were clipping her wings when they refused to let her study abroad.

    Ella sentía que sus padres le estaban cortando las alas cuando se negaron a dejarla estudiar en el extranjero.

• 2.

  USUKWorldwideneutralliteral
  • To trim or remove part of a bird's wing feathers to prevent flight.

  Examples

  Beta

  • The vet clipped the bird’s wings to prevent it from flying away during recovery.

    El veterinario le recortó las alas al pájaro para evitar que volara durante la recuperación.

  • They clipped the wings of the young parrot so it could get used to its new environment safely.

    Le cortaron las alas al loro joven para que pudiera acostumbrarse a su nuevo entorno de forma segura.

  • Before releasing the rescued hawk, the wildlife rehabilitator clipped its wings slightly for safety reasons.

    Antes de liberar al halcón rescatado, el rehabilitador de vida silvestre le recortó un poco las alas por razones de seguridad.

  • The bird’s wings were clipped carefully to ensure it could not escape but still move around comfortably.

    Las alas del pájaro fueron recortadas cuidadosamente para asegurarse de que no pudiera escapar pero aún así moverse con comodidad.