cut the ground from under

cut the ground from under (one)

To diminish or undermine one's power or effectiveness, especially in a sudden or unexpected manner. I plan to cut the ground from under the prosecutor with this line of questioning. A: "I warned Al not to cut the ground from under the boss in front of the CEO." B: "It was a really poor strategic move on his part." We need to be a united front when we're with the kids. You can't cut the ground from under me like that.

cut the ground from under

Unexpectedly withdraw support or destroy one's foundation, trip someone up. For example, Overriding his veto, Congress cut the ground from under the President. This metaphoric phrase alludes to removing the solid earth from under someone. [Mid-1800s]

cut the ground from under somebody/somebody’s ˈfeet

suddenly spoil somebody’s idea or plan by doing something to stop them from continuing with it: When he announced that all my figures were out of date, he really cut the ground from under my feet.

cut the ground from under, to

To foil or thwart someone, to trip someone up. The idea of leaving someone no ground to stand upon in an argument was expressed in the late sixteenth century by several writers; occasionally “grass” was substituted for “ground.” James Howell’s French proverb collection of 1659 included Couper l’herbe sous les pieds, “To cut the grass under one’s feet.” Anthony Trollope used the expression in several of his books, including The Warden (1869): “The ground was cut from under her.”