put (someone or something) to shame
1. To disgrace, embarrass, or shame someone or something. The neighborhood is going to start putting people to shame who don't pick up after their pets. These giant banks were all culpable for the economic crash, and I think we should put them to shame for it.
2. To outclass, outshine, or outperform someone or something. I thought I was a pretty good tennis player, but you put me to shame! The fledgling technology company's debut smartphone puts the rest of the competition to shame.
put someone to shame
1. to embarrass someone; to make someone ashamed. I put him to shame by telling everyone about his bad behavior.
2. to show someone up. Your excellent efforts put us all to shame.
put to shame
Outdo, eclipse, as in Jane's immaculate kitchen puts mine to shame. This idiom modifies the literal sense of put to shame, that is, "disgrace someone," to the much milder "cause to feel inferior." [Mid-1800s]
put somebody/something to ˈshame
be much better than somebody/something: This new stereo puts our old one to shame. put to shame
1. To cause to feel shame.
2. To outdo thoroughly; surpass: Your kindness has put the rest of us to shame.