# knock someone off their perch

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/knock-someone-off-their-perch
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To defeat or overcome someone who was in a dominant position.

## Examples

- The underdog finally knocked the champion off his perch.
- After years of dominating the market, the small startup finally knocked the industry leader off its perch.
- The unexpected election results served to knock the long-standing political establishment off its perch, signaling a profound shift in the public mood.

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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.