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
- Regular comparative (-er + als 'than')Komparativ regelmäßig (-er + als)
- Superlative (am …-sten)Superlativ (am …-sten)
- Comparison of equality with 'so … wie' (as … as)Vergleich mit so … wie
- Verb 'schmecken' (to taste good, + dative)Verb 'schmecken' (+ Dativ)
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.