jemandem das Wasser abgraben
to undermine someone; to cut off someone's lifeblood
Origin
Two images: diverting the water that drives a mill (it stops), or draining a castle's protective moat (the castle becomes vulnerable) - in each , taking away someone's livelihood.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Pronoun 'er' (he/it, nominative)Pronomen 'er' (Nominativ)
- Pronoun 'wir' (we, nominative)Pronomen 'wir' (Nominativ)
- Pronoun 'Sie' (you, formal, nominative)Pronomen 'Sie' (formell, Nominativ)
- Definite article 'das' (the, neuter, nominative)Bestimmter Artikel 'das' (neutrum, Nominativ)
Examples
Mit den niedrigen Preisen gräbt die den kleinen Läden das ab.
With its low prices the chain is cutting off the small shops' lifeblood.