12 Simple Phrases That Knock An Arrogant Person Off Their Pedestal

Put an arrogant person in their place with these phrases.

A woman in a blue checkered shirt stands in an office, gesturing with her hand while speaking to a man and a woman. The woman's expression is serious, and the man and woman appear to be listening intently. There is a table in the background.

Arrogant people can be a nightmare to contend with. They can kill the mood and get under the skin of even the most Zen of individuals. Fortunately, there are some phrases that can knock them off their high horses, or get them to back down and shut up.

1. “Don’t tell me: show me.”

A man with short brown hair is smiling widely and pointing upwards with his right index finger. He is wearing a blue button-up shirt and standing against a plain white background.

Are you familiar with the saying, “Those who can, do”? Those who boast about themselves rarely reflect the reality of their capabilities. The next time someone spouts off about how talented they are, call them out and ask for proof of it. Their bluster should dissipate quite effectively.

2. “I don’t remember anyone asking you.”

A young woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a beige sweater, stands against a plain white background. She has a puzzled expression, with her eyebrows slightly raised and arms outstretched with palms up in a questioning gesture.

Many arrogant people seek to show others just how smart and important they are by offering their unsolicited opinions and advice at any given opportunity. Make it clear to them that when and if anyone wants their input, they’ll be asked. Until that magical day arrives, nobody cares.

3. “Your confidence in your own ability is noted.”

A woman with long blonde hair and glasses is sitting on a couch in a living room, looking at the camera with a questioning expression. She is wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt, and books and a lamp can be seen in the background.

This is a subtle way of telling the person that nobody else has anywhere near as much faith in their ability as they do. You don’t have to say this in a condescending manner either: simply remain stoic and impassive, stating it as a fact.

4. “Let’s bring the focus back to the task at hand.”

A woman with long curly hair and wearing a dark blue shirt gestures with her hands while speaking to another woman with straight hair, who is blurred in the foreground. They appear to be having a serious conversation in a bright, indoor setting.

Arrogant people tend to go off on tangents about topics that they find more interesting—usually revolving around themselves. Instead of acknowledging anything they had to say, simply redirect the conversation back to what was discussed before their monologue. This usually does the trick of taking the wind out of their sails.

5. “I’ll pay attention when you say something worthwhile.”

A man with dark hair and a beard is seen against a blue background, wearing a checked shirt with yellow and red colors. He is holding his black-framed glasses down on his nose and looking directly at the camera with a surprised or curious expression.

Implying that nothing they have to say holds any merit will usually do the trick of deflating their bluster. Those who behave arrogantly like to be the center of attention and admiration. If they’re told that they have nothing of value to add, they’ll often shut up to avoid feeling insulted further.

6. “You do enjoy hearing yourself speak, don’t you.”

A person with long hair wearing a white T-shirt and blue plaid shirt gestures with their right hand while speaking. They are indoors, and behind them are shelves with potted plants and a table. The image captures a moment of conversation.

A phrase like this tells the person that nobody else is enjoying anything they have to say, and that they’re simply entertaining themselves by droning on about how terribly special they are. Saying this phrase with a monotone voice and bored expression will add extra impact to your words.

7. “Fascinating. Moving on…”

A person with red hair and glasses sits at a wooden table in a modern home interior. They are wearing a blue button-up shirt and have a contemplative expression, with one hand raised and the other resting on the table. The background includes a couch and various plants.

Arrogant people don’t like it when they’re made to feel that what they say isn’t as captivating as they thought. As a result, if you simply dismiss their blathering and move on to the next topic as if they don’t matter at all, they’ll either go silent, or leave to seek out validation.

8. “Here’s another great example of the Dunning-Kruger effect.”

A woman with long red hair, wearing a light purple top and white pants, sits on a gray couch raising her hands defensively while talking to a man with a beard, wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, who is extending his hand towards her. They appear to be in a heated discussion.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a type of cognitive bias in which those who don’t have much knowledge or skill in a particular subject don’t just overestimate their competence levels, but aren’t even capable of recognizing their shortcomings. Bring attention to how their behavior exemplifies this bias and it should shut them up.

9. “You sound just like ____ .”

A man with gray hair and wearing a blue plaid shirt and jeans, sits on a couch with a concerned expression. A woman with long blond hair, a white sweater, and jeans, wearing glasses, sits beside him, pointing her finger and looking frustrated. Shelves are visible in the background.

This one only works if you know that they dislike this aspect about a person (like a critical parent), and yet they’re embodying the same behavior, and if you know their disliked individual personally. Pointing out that they’re emulating behavior they claim to despise tends to silence them effectively.

10. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in years.”

A group of four friends is sitting at an outdoor café table, enjoying drinks and food. They are engaged in conversation and laughing. One person holds a glass of orange juice, while another has a cup of coffee. There are plates of food on the table.

The more boastful someone is about how terribly special they are, the less likely their claims are to be true. View them as a joke and treat them as such, and it’ll knock the braggart off their pedestal rather effectively, particularly if others are around to witness them being chastised.

11. “We’re all very impressed, have a gold star.”

Two women are seated at a desk in an office, engaged in conversation. One, wearing a light blue shirt, is gesturing with her hand. The other, in an orange blouse and glasses, listens attentively. A laptop and two striped mugs are on the desk in front of them. Blinds cover the windows behind them.

If a gold star isn’t a reward for childhood achievement where you’re from, use a more familiar alternative. A phrase like this tells them that nobody else is impressed by their boasting, but since they think so very highly of themselves, here’s a prize that any school kid would be proud of.

12. “I see your narcissistic personality disorder is thriving.”

Two women sit on a sofa in a living room. The woman on the right, with curly hair and wearing a pink shirt, gestures with her hands while looking concerned. The woman on the left, with straight hair and wearing a denim jacket, holds a cup with both hands and looks away.

Arrogant people really don’t like to be called out on their poor behavior. Most of them are overcompensating for insecurity by trying to coax praise and recognition from others. If they’re suddenly labeled with an accusation of poor behavior—especially one as distasteful as clinical narcissism—they’ll be appalled.