pull the rug

pull the rug
   to render bankrupt
   The imagery is from causing a person standing on a mat to fall when you jerk it. The use is of a banker who declines to give more credit or a creditor who obtains judgement for a debt. Whence figuratively of unilateral action by another precipitating a crisis:
    He thinks the United Nations peacemongers could pull the rug. (Forsyth, 1994 — some parties were in favour of leaving Iraq in possession of conquered Kuwait)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • pull the rug — ( ● rug …   Useful english dictionary

  • pull the rug —    If you pull the rug from under someone s feet, you suddenly and unexpectedly remove all help or support.     When Andy s mother stopped sending him money, she pulled the rug from under his feet and forced him to find a job …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • pull the rug (out) from under someone — phrase to suddenly stop supporting someone They want to pull the rug out from under the people who really need health care. Thesaurus: to cause problems for someone or somethingsynonym Main entry: rug …   Useful english dictionary

  • pull the rug (out) from under someone — pull the rug (out) from under (someone/something) to suddenly take away important support from someone. The school pulled the rug from under the local team by making them pay to practice in the school gym …   New idioms dictionary

  • pull the rug (out) from under something — pull the rug (out) from under (someone/something) to suddenly take away important support from someone. The school pulled the rug from under the local team by making them pay to practice in the school gym …   New idioms dictionary

  • pull the rug (out) from under — (someone/something) to suddenly take away important support from someone. The school pulled the rug from under the local team by making them pay to practice in the school gym …   New idioms dictionary

  • pull the rug from under someone — pull the rug from under (someone/something) to suddenly take away help or support from someone, or to suddenly do something which causes many problems for them. The school pulled the rug from under the basketball team by making them pay to… …   New idioms dictionary

  • pull the rug from under something — pull the rug from under (someone/something) to suddenly take away help or support from someone, or to suddenly do something which causes many problems for them. The school pulled the rug from under the basketball team by making them pay to… …   New idioms dictionary

  • pull the rug from under — (someone/something) to suddenly take away help or support from someone, or to suddenly do something which causes many problems for them. The school pulled the rug from under the basketball team by making them pay to practise in the school… …   New idioms dictionary

  • pull the rug from under someone — pull the rug (out) from under someone abruptly withdraw support (from someone) the rug was pulled right out from beneath our feet …   Useful english dictionary

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