What is the origin of the idiom 'clip your wings'?

Answer 1

Origin: In ancient Rome, people clipped the wings of pet birds so that they would not fly away. Therefore, for centuries, people have used the expression 'clip one's wings' to mean bringing someone under control. It originates from the practice of shortening flight feathers of domestic and caged birds in order to prevent flight, and therfore loss of birds. To clip someone's wings means to put in place actions or ideas to calm them down, prevent flightiness, make them settle.

Answer 2

Example: My father said that if I dind't start behaving, he was going to clip my wings. Meaning: To end a person's privileges; to take away someone's power or freedom to do something Orgin: In acient Rome thousands of years ago, people clipped the wings of pet birds so that they couldn't fly away. For centuries people have used the idiom "Clip one's wings" to mean brings a person under control. Example: My father said that if I dind't start behaving, he was going to clip my wings. Meaning: To end a person's privileges; to take away someone's power or freedom to do something Orgin: In acient Rome thousands of years ago, people clipped the wings of pet birds so that they couldn't fly away. For centuries people have used the idiom "Clip one's wings" to mean brings a person under control.