bring low

bring low (third-person singular simple present brings low, present participle bringing low, simple past and past participle brought low)

1. To embarrass or humiliate.
2. To kill.
   • 1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 46:

     Then Beowulf too rallied. With his whetted dagger he slit a gash in the serpent's middle. Thus did Beowulf bring him low!

• cut down to size
• lower one's sights
• put someone in their place