If you take someone down a peg or two or bring them down a peg or two, you do something to make them less proud or make them realise that they are not as important as they thought they were. When it comes to success stories like these sports stars, all the media want to do is find ways to bring them down a peg or two. We thought it was time they were brought down a peg or two. Note: People sometimes just say bring someone down a peg or take someone down a peg. We'd have liked to see her taken down a peg, but not this way. Note: This expression may refer to the tuning of musical instruments such as guitars or violins, where pegs are used to keep the strings tight. Alternatively, it may refer to the game of cribbage, where pegs are used to keep the score.