Definition
To undermine someone's position or chances of success, typically by acting before them or doing something better than them.
挫攓计划，拆台
When she announced her research findings, a competitor cut the ground from under her feet by publishing similar research first.
当她宣布她的研究结果时，一位竞争对手抢先发表了类似的研究，让她措手不及。
He was planning to present the proposal, but the committee cut the ground from under his feet by moving ahead and passing their own.
他正计划提交提案，但委员会抢先一步通过了他们自己的提案，让他失去了机会。
By publishing his paper first, he cut the ground from under the other researchers, making their findings seem less impactful.
他抢先发表了论文，让其他研究人员的成果显得没那么重要。