scupper

scup·per (skup′ər)

noun

Etymology: LME via ? Anglo-Fr < OFr escopir, lit., to spit < VL *skuppire, of echoic orig.

transitive verb

Brit., Informal to wreck; ruin our plans were scuppered

Object

chance: I suspect this will scupper the chances of 1 or 2 of the transfer burning leaders.
deal: In buying terms tho you could scupper a deal by being a little too eager.
plan: Thus France was instrumental in scuppering plans to promote the free movement of services within the EU.
attempt: Britain scuppers all attempts at an agreed solution Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean government persisted in its efforts to solve the land question amicably.
project: I hope that a vocal minority will not scupper the Crowness project for the rest of us.
agreement: Every time they get close something else comes up & scuppers an agreement.

Subject

weather: Even if they can provide the power to move the airship, the whole project could be scuppered by the British weather.
fact: This trial has been scuppered by the fact that Network Rail has increased the pathing charge by 40 % for electric services.

Adjective modifier

lee: Every morning except when, the moon was large I got a bountiful supply by merely picking them up from the lee scuppers.

Modifies a noun

hole: Ocean Kayaks are designed with scupper holes in the cockpit which direct water out to keep the kayak from being swamped.

Modifying Another Word

nearly: Even if the very person training him was the same man who slashed the tool kit and nearly scuppered his qualification dive.
also: These included being knocked out, also scuppered, but " scuppered " means killed and so does " knocked out " .
completely: If not reversed, he said " it would completely scupper any bid " by the United States for the Summer or Winter Games.
rather: We usually go to Church on Christmas Day, but the late start rather scuppered it this year.
yet: The politicization of relief complicates the provision of aid, and may yet scupper the effective reconstruction of Iraq.

Used with why or when

when: Our plans for a bike ride were well and truly scuppered when the snow fell for about 10 continuous hours.
what: It isn't long before his desires become inexorable and he sets out to scupper what he can't have leading to an explosive nail-biting climax.

Preposition: by

weather: Even if they can provide the power to move the airship, the whole project could be scuppered by the British weather.
fact: This trial has been scuppered by the fact that Network Rail has increased the pathing charge by 40 % for electric services.

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