take the wind out of one's sails
take the wind out of one's sails {v. phr.}
To surprise someone by doing better or by catching him in an error.
John came home boasting about the fish he had caught; it took the wind out of his sails when he found his little sister had caught a bigger one.
Dick took the wind out of Bob's sails by showing him where he was wrong.
Compare: TAKE THE STARCH OUT OF (2).
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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
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