Dictionary

spike someone's guns en · VERB

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. To frustrate a person's efforts or designs; to undercut, to render helpless.
   • Labour is known to be worried about the Cameron effect and might attempt to spike his guns. 2005 November 8, John Crace, The Guardian:
   • 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. 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society, published 2010, page 205:

Forms