Literal Translation
Just above the daisies
Actual Meaning
Low quality, usually said of bad taste humour
Etymology
Technically, height does not only refer to an elevated altitude such as that of a mountain, an aeroplane in the air or a migratory bird. Figuratively speaking, height can also refer to important and high-quality things: moral stature, highly subtle humour, etc.
In contrast, when we want to describe something uninteresting, very limited or depressing, such as humour, we use images related to small or modest things.
This is why the daisy perfectly illustrates this state. It is a simple flower that is not highly prized for interior decoration, and it is small.
This means that anything or anyone standing or walking across a field at daisy height would be very close to the ground, giving rise to the metaphor. This metaphor can be applied, far from lofty heights, to petty actions, narrow-minded ideas or ambitions.
However, a multitude of small things could have been included in such a metaphor. Yes, but.
The 16th-century expression ‘ras terre’ was replaced by ‘à ras de terre’ in the 18th century. So, even though poppies or colchicum could also have been used in this expression, it is not surprising that the choice fell on a flower that is ubiquitous in fields, close to the ground.