be put in (one's) place

To be humbled or have one's dignity lowered (by someone); to be made aware that one is not as important, respected, influential, etc., as one thinks. John was really put in his place by the teacher, who scolded him so harshly that he burst into tears. I'd say that the billionaire CEO has been put in his place after the guilty verdict at his trial. The bully was put in his place by a scrawny sixth grader? Wow, this just keeps getting better!