know one's place

To be deferential to one's elders or superiors.

Ken is a talented teaching assistant, but he has a tendency to tell the head of the department how to run things. Somebody ought to teach him to know his place.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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place

[place] See: [HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE], [HIGH PLACE], [IN PLACE], [INSTEAD OF] or [IN PLACE OF], [IN THE FIRST PLACE], [JUMPING-OFF PLACE], [LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

in place

[in place] (1) {adv. phr.} 1a. In the right or usual place or position. * /Nothing is in place after the earthquake. Even trees and houses are turned over./ * […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

put in one's place

[put in one's place] {v. phr.}, {informal} To criticize someone for impolite boldness; remind someone of low rank or position; reduce someone's unsuitable pride; deflate. * /The assistant was trying […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

out of place

[out of place] (1) {adv. phr.} Not in the right or usual place or position. * /Harry fell and knocked one of his teeth out of place./ * /The teacher […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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