Unexpectedly withdraw support or destroy one's foundation, trip someone up. For example, Overriding his veto, Congress cut the ground from under the President. This metaphoric phrase alludes to removing the solid earth from under someone. [Mid-1800s]
cut the ground from under
| Idioms: cut the ground from under |
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 | ground (Idiom) |
| cut (Idiom) |
| under (Idiom) |
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 | Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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Mentioned in
- ground (Idiom)
- cut (Idiom)
- under (Idiom)
- The Master Builder (Characters) (play)
- Jakob Frohschammer
- Brugmann's law
- Pope Paul V
- Sir William Lawrence, 1st Baronet
- Henry IV of France's succession
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