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Spike somebody’s guns

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Idiomatic Usage

Used to describe action taken to prevent someone from succeeding, often in a clever or unexpected way.

Illustration for Idiomatic Usage
When she presented the data first, she spiked his guns on the proposal.
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Metaphoric Origin

Originally a military term for disabling enemy cannons by blocking them, now applied metaphorically to strategies or arguments.

Illustration for Metaphoric Origin
By leaking the project flaws, the whistleblower spiked the company's guns.
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Neutral Tone

The phrase isn't inherently negative or positive; it depends on the context it's used in.

Illustration for Neutral Tone
The lawyer spiked the opposing witness's guns with a surprise alibi.
Visual representation of the word "Spike somebody’s guns"

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