put the skids under somebody/something
put the skids under (someone or something)
To cause the ruin, failure, or defeat of someone or something. Her frequent absences from work put the skids under any hopes she had of a promotion. The boss accused Theresa of trying to put the skids under him.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
put the skids under someone or something
Sl. to cause someone or something to fail. Her lateness put the skids under our presentation to the board of directors. He thought he could get promoted if he put the skids under the vice president.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
put the skids under
Bring about the failure or defeat of, as in It was lack of funds that put the skids under the new senior center. The skids here are runners or rollers on which a heavy object may be moved. [Colloquial; early 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
put the skids under something
BRITISH, INFORMALIf a person or thing puts the skids under something or someone, they cause them to experience many problems or fail. It was a sudden increase in the oil price which first put the skids under the world economy. The Brazilian striker's fifth-minute goal helped put the skids under Manchester United in their quarter-final in Munich last month.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
put the skids under
hasten the decline or failure of. informalFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
put the ˈskids under somebody/something
(informal) make somebody/something fail; stop somebody/something doing something: Unfortunately the government has put the skids under the hospital building programme.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017