know one's place

English

Verb

know one's place (third-person singular simple present knows one's place, present participle knowing one's place, simple past knew one's place, past participle known one's place)

1. To understand one's rank or status and behave accordingly; to act humbly.
   • 1871 September 1, John Ruskin, “Letter IX”, in Fors Clavigera. Letters to the Workmen and Labourers of Great Britain, volume I, Orpington, Kent: George Allen, →OCLC, page 7:

     Had he been taught early and thoroughly to know his place, and be content with his faculty, he would have been one of the happiest and most serviceable of men.

   • 2007 September 25, Bungie, Halo 3, Microsoft Game Studios, Xbox 360, level/area: Terminal Five (Heroic):

     Your civilization has seen its final days. You will know your place.

Related terms

• learn one's place

Translations

act humbly according to one's rank

• Hungarian: tudja a helyét
• Indonesian: tahu diri (id)
• Italian: saper stare al proprio posto

See also

• stay in one's lane
• uppity