clip sb's wings
to limit someone's freedom

[TahlilGaran] Advanced Learner's Dictionary ▲

clip wings
clip (someone's) wings
to limit someone's freedom.
She never had kids. I guess she thought motherhood would clip her wings.

clip (your) wings
to limit your freedom.
She was afraid that motherhood would clip her wings.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of clip a bird's wings (= to cut the feathers that make it possible for a bird to fly)

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

clip wings
to limit or hold someone back, to bring someone under control; to limit someone's activities or possibilities
We plan to clip the supervisor's wings as he is becoming too aggressive when dealing with other people.

The company decided to clip the manager's wings and took away his expense account.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

clip someone's wings
clip (someone's) wings
to limit someone's freedom.
She never had kids. I guess she thought motherhood would clip her wings.

clip (your) wings
to limit your freedom.
She was afraid that motherhood would clip her wings.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of clip a bird's wings (= to cut the feathers that make it possible for a bird to fly)

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

clip someone's wings
to limit or hold someone back, to bring someone under control; to limit someone's activities or possibilities
We plan to clip the supervisor's wings as he is becoming too aggressive when dealing with other people.

The company decided to clip the manager's wings and took away his expense account.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

clip one's wings
v. phr. To limit or hold you back, bring you under control; prevent your success.
When the new president tried to become dictator, the generals soon clipped his wings.
Jim was spending too much time on dates when he needed to study so his father stopped his allowance; that clipped his wings.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲