spike someone's gunsとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From the wartime practice of welding a metal spike into the touchhole of a cannon (generally done to enemy guns by raiders, または to one's own guns if forced to abandon them in a retreat), making the cannon impossible to fire.

動詞

spike someone's guns (三人称単数 現在形 spikes someone's guns, 現在分詞 spiking someone's guns, 過去形および過去分詞形 spiked someone's guns)

1. To frustrate a person's efforts or designs; to undercut, to render helpless.
   • 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society 2010, p. 205:

     But whatever the Russians may have felt (かつ, 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.

   • 2005, John Crace, The Guardian, 8 Nov 2005:

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