Meaning of: 'You're too big for your own good.'

[Tom]

Hi

Could you please tell me the meaning of:

1- 'You're too big for your own good.'

Tom

[Alan]

Hi Tom,

It's a little difficult to explain fully without knowing the exact context. I would suggest 'big' here means important or possibly self-important. The whole expression means you are so big/important/self-important that you are exposing yourself to risk/you are likely to get harmed/you put yourself in a dangerous situtaion.

Hope that goes some way towards explaining it.

A
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[Abr4xii]

Couldn't it also be used to suggest that a person's size/looks/intelligence/knowledge are intimidating to others and might cause them to be shunned?

[Yankee]

Hi Abr4xii

Yes, there are a variety of ways the sentence could be interpreted. The exact meaning depends on the broader context.
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