The Tall Poppy Interview is a Torontoist tradition. The term Tall Poppy is based on outdated Australian slang, deriving (originally) from an Aristotelian text (Quoth Aristotle's Politics: "Hence Periander advised Thrasybulus by cutting off the tops of the tallest ears of corn, meaning that he must always put out of the way the citizens who overtop the rest"). The term loosely applies to the feeling of envy towards a person of higher social status.