# clip someone's wings

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/clip-someones-wings
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To restrict someone's freedom.

## Examples

- My boss clipped my wings by limiting my travel budget.
- Parents often clip their teenagers' wings by setting a very early curfew.
- The bank clips your wings when they lower your credit card limit.
- The new company rules really clipped my wings, as I can no longer work from home on Fridays.
- The head chef clipped his assistant's wings by refusing to let him add any new dishes to the seasonal menu.
- After the scandal, the board of directors clipped the CEO's wings by requiring every decision to be approved by a committee.
- Moving back to a small village after living in the city for years really clipped her wings and made her feel trapped.
- The strict regulations imposed by the board effectively clipped the manager's wings, preventing him from pursuing the ambitious expansion he had planned.

## Origin

From the practice of trimming a bird's primary flight feathers to prevent its departure. The physical alteration ensures the animal remains within the owner's property, an inconvenience for the bird that has transitioned into a figurative restriction of another's independence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.