put the skids under

Idioms  

1. 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]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

put the skids under

It was a handy response to the virtuoso performance of Harlequins' Marcus Smith - his rival for the Red Rose spot - which put the skids under Sale.

From BBC ● Dec. 2, 2023

And it certainly won't put the skids under Farrell.

From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2022

Then he landed the equaliser that put the skids under Ghana before temporarily negating Holland's obvious superiority in Cape Town with his left-foot drive.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 7, 2010

When Secretary of State Cordell Hull last week abrogated the 28-year-old U.S.-Japan treaty of commerce and navigation, he put the skids under trade with the U.S.'s third-best customer.*

From Time Magazine Archive

For that reason the Frothinghams on state160 occasions put the skids under Uncle Heck and run him off stage till after the final curtain.

From You Should Worry Says John Henry by Hugh McHugh