A pedestal is a base or support that holds something up, usually to display it or make it more visible and important. Museums place valuable sculptures on pedestals so visitors can see them better. A statue in a town square often stands on a stone or concrete pedestal, raising it high above the crowd.

The word is also used for raised platforms that people or objects stand on. When we say someone “puts another person on a pedestal,” we mean they admire that person so much they see them as perfect or superior. A younger student might put a star athlete on a pedestal, thinking they can do no wrong. This can create problems: when you put someone on a pedestal, you stop seeing them as a real person with strengths and weaknesses, like everyone else. You might get disappointed when they make normal mistakes, or you might feel too nervous around them to act naturally.

The phrase “knock someone off their pedestal” means to discover that someone you admired isn't actually perfect. Sometimes this feels disappointing, but it can also feel freeing, because it means you can see the person more clearly and honestly.