Meaning of spike someone's guns | Babel Free

Definitions

To frustrate a person's efforts or designs; to undercut, to render helpless.

Examples

“But whatever the Russians may have felt (and, apparently, still do feel) about Shakespear, his superiors were delighted by the way he had so skilfully spiked the Tsar's guns by liberating his subjects.”

“Labour is known to be worried about the Cameron effect and might attempt to spike his guns.”

CEFR level