IdiomThe Absurd
English
Englishpull the rug out from under someone
Meaning: To abruptly ruin someone's plans or expectations.
Example: “The bank pulled the rug out from under us by canceling the loan.”
Equivalents in other languages
French: Savonner la planche à quelqu'un Literally: To soap someone's plank
Origin: The image is of someone standing on a rug that is suddenly yanked away, making them fall. The figurative phrase is American from the mid-20th century.
More English idioms
- pull the wool over someone's eyes To deceive or fool someone.
- pull up stakes To collect one's household belongings and leave one's house or property; to move to anoth…
- put all one's eggs in one basket To invest all one's hopes or plans in only one possible outcome.
- put someone on the spot To put someone in a difficult situation or to present someone with a difficult choice; to…
- put the squeeze on To apply pressure on someone to do something; to force or coerce someone.
- rake someone over the coals To reprimand or criticize someone harshly.
Explore another collection: False Friends
Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
- Sensible Actually means 'sensitive'. For sensible/level-headed, say raisonnable.
- Librairie Actually means 'bookshop'. A library is une bibliothèque.
- Constipado Actually means 'having a head cold'. Estoy constipado = I have a cold.
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