When said "they will pull you down to their level", what does that mean?

A political candidate has idealistic dreams of how to solve the problems of the area s/he is running for. Should the candidate win and be immersed in the political shennanagry of whatever party or location they represent, they may be pulled down to a less desirable level when it comes to achieving their goals.

If someone lies, cheats or steals something from you, you might while trying to get revenge be pulled down to their level and do something you otherwise wouldn’t.

I’ve often heard the phrase, “Don’t argue with an idiot. They’ll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”

When a friend has encountered insults or unkindness from someone, I’ve said to my friend, ‘the provocateur was just trying to get into an argument with you or make you feel bad by trying to bring you down to their level. But you are above that sort of thing.’

It is an insult that means you are better than a low-handed comment, low level attitude or bad situation and you’d have to go down a level to communicate with that sort of person or situation.

If there is someone at work or at school or even at a place where you go to socialize, that acts mean and snarky towards you (seemingly for no reason) you have several choices. You can attempt to talk to the person civilly and try to find out why they are being mean to you, or you can simply ignore them and hope that the person gets bored/tired of treating you that way, or you can be “brought down to their level” by responding in a way that is mean and snarky towards that person, essentially making you not much better than they are.

Basically, it means doing something bad/naughty/mean/rude because it’s easier (for any number of reasons) than doing the right thing or taking the high road.

Another example would be a young impressionable person, who ends up taking drugs or shoplifting, so he/she will fit in with a particular crowd. Maybe because they want to appear to be cool, or they’re afraid that they won’t be popular, or that they’re concerned that other people might view them as not being independent of their parent’s rules.

Another example is a person who goes out and cheats on their SO, because their SO cheated on them first. It’s like they’re trying to teach the other person a lesson, or to one-up the original cheater, or to make the other person feel guilty, or to make his or herself feel desirable despite being cheated upon. So in fact, they’ve been “brought down to the level” of the original cheater.

It is similar to the expression “Don’t stoop to their level”.

In the face of turmoil from someone, Take the high road. Don’t let the emotions pull you down to how they are acting. People who fight “dirty” want to pull you to their level.
Remain positive and remain professional.

Is there an exception to this rule?

@raven860 Not quite sure what you mean by an exception to this rule. We’re just giving examples of what the term they will pull you down to their level means. It’s not a rule, it’s a definition.

It’s not a rule that you or anyone else will be pulled down to anyone’s level. Many times parents or other well meaning people might tell you to avoid certain people because they’re afraid that if you don’t have enough backbone or maturity, then you might end up being pulled down to their level. Whoever “they” might be.

Sometimes it means that my stock is about to go up

Pull you down to their level means influence you to act in a manner that is not up to your own high standards, but rather their lower standards.

Well said, @YARNLADY. Perfectly stated. I tried to say that but I was too wordy. Nice.

I’m sure you know what it means. And let’s not forget the “lol.”