выбить почву из-под ног

• ВЫБИВАТЬ/ВЫБИТЬ (ВЫШИБАТЬ/ВЫШИБИТЬ) ПОЧВУ ИЗ-ПОД НОГ чьих, (у) кого{{}}

[VP; subj: human or, less often, abstr]

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⇒ to undermine s.o.'s sense of security, undercut s.o.'s plans, arguments etc, make precarious s.o.'s position in life or in some situation etc:

- X выбил у Y-а почву из-под ног{{}}≈ X cut the ground (out) from under Y ( Y's feet);

- [often in refer, to withholding or withdrawing support from s.o.] X pulled the rug out from under Y;

- [usu. in refer, to undercutting s.o.'s arguments in a debate, negotiations etc] X left Y without a leg to stand on.

     ♦ Разрешив банкам обмен денег, правительство выбило почву из-под ног спекулянтов валютой. By permitting banks to change money, the government cut the ground out from under speculators in hard currency.