Definition
To undermine someone's position or chances of success, typically by acting before them or doing something better than them.
挫攓計劃，拆臺
When she announced her research findings, a competitor cut the ground from under her feet by publishing similar research first.
當她宣布她的研究結果時，一位競爭對手搶先發表了類似的研究，讓她措手不及。
He was planning to present the proposal, but the committee cut the ground from under his feet by moving ahead and passing their own.
他正計劃提交提案，但委員會搶先一步通過了他們自己的提案，讓他失去了機會。
By publishing his paper first, he cut the ground from under the other researchers, making their findings seem less impactful.
他搶先發表了論文，讓其他研究人員的成果顯得沒那麼重要。