scupper

If you ‘scupper’ something, such as a plan or opportunity, you spoil it in some way. This can be done deliberately as an act of sabotage, or as a result of something unavoidable. Either way, it generally leads to an unfavourable outcome. The word is most commonly used in a professional context.

1. I’m worried that my late arrival to my job interview will scupper my chances of getting the position.

2. I had arranged for the entrepreneur to give a talk at the event, but my plans were scuppered when she pulled out with an illness at the last minute.

3. Lisa wanted to lead the project and was very unhappy when I was chosen instead. Now she’s deliberately trying to scupper it.