It is used to describe over achievers in general. From wiki:

> Recent research performed at University of Waikato in New Zealand shows that a culture of tall poppy syndrome may result in a reduction in average performance of up to 20% for an organisation and explains how electronic cyberbullying can be considered a modern extension to the physical assassinations of King Tarquin's day.[17]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tall_poppy_syndrome

It depends on whose side you're on. The term is used a lot in Australia at least by successful or wealthy people who feel that they're disliked or that people are trying to bring them down just because they're successful, but I think it's a lot more nuanced than that.

I think in general the average Australian doesn't care too much if others are successful or rich or whatever, but find it extremely distasteful for somebody to act as if business success or having a lot of money makes them more important than others, or more worthy of honour etc. So in my interpretation, snobby people would be much more prone to copping 'tall poppy syndrome' than a rich but humble person.

I assume this is fairly similar in NZ, but perhaps slightly different.

Huh. I always thought it was more "the people that stand out get cut down" sort of thing.

e.g. if you're gonna do crime, don't be the tall poppy that sticks out in the field of crime. Then apply that concept to more or less everything.

Googling though shows you're right. Interesting.

From my understanding, its about putting people down if you perceive them as better than you.