E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Nose Out of Joint.
To put one’s nose out of joint is to supplant a person in another’s good graces. To put another person’s nose where yours is now. There is a good French locution, “Lui couper l’herbe sous le picd.” (In Latin, “Aliquem de jure suo dejicere.”) Sometimes it means to humiliate a conceited person.
1
“Fearing now least this wench which is brought over hit her should put your nose out the joynt, comming betweene home and you.”—Terence in English (1614).
