the nail that sticks out gets hammered down: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  General Englishoften used in reference to East Asian societies (notably Japan)proverbialneutralMachine
  • A proverb asserting that individuals who stand out from the group (by behavior, opinion, or appearance) will be forced to conform or be suppressed; a statement about social pressure toward conformity.
  • An observation that visibility or distinctiveness invites criticism, punishment, or corrective pressure from others or from institutions.

  Examples

  Beta

  • In the strict culture of the village, everyone knew well that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, so people rarely dared to express unusual opinions.

    在那个村庄严格的文化里，大家都很清楚，出头的钉子必被钉下，因此人们很少敢表达不同的观点。

  • If you keep challenging the company's outdated policies, remember that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down eventually, so tread carefully.

    如果你继续挑战公司过时的政策，记住出头的钉子终会被钉下，所以要小心行事。

  • She wanted to stand out with her unique style, but in that conservative school, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, and she faced constant pressure to conform.

    她想以独特的风格出众，但在那所保守的学校，出头的钉子必被钉下，她不断面临压力要顺从。