sabotage

Everyday

1. Damaging or destroying something on purpose, especially machines, roads or plans, to stop an enemy or rival. tree →
2. (verb) To damage something on purpose. tree →
3. To secretly spoil someone's plan or chance. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons, resistance fighters in World War II sabotaged railways and factories. In everyday life a person can «sabotage» a game or a group project by spoiling it on purpose. In stories it is a villain's trick. Phrases: «act of sabotage», «sabotage someone's plans», «self-sabotage».

Examples

• The spies planned sabotage on the bridge. tree →
• Someone sabotaged our sandcastle while we were swimming. tree →
• Don't sabotage the group project by not doing your part. tree →
• The train crash was caused by sabotage, not an accident. tree →
• She thought her rival had sabotaged her bike. tree →
• Staying up late before a test is self-sabotage. tree →

Note

Pronounced «SAB-uh-tahzh». From French. Regular verb: sabotaged. Myth: it is often said the word comes from workers throwing wooden shoes (sabots) into machines; that story is probably made up. Damaging property on purpose is a crime.