What does scuppering mean?
Scuppering means deliberately putting a ship out of action, usually by damaging its hull beneath the waterline so that it takes on water and sinks. The verb has long been used figuratively to describe the ruin of an undertaking or the destruction of someone's chances. A missed opportunity, costly mistake, or act of sabotage may scupper a plan, career, or campaign. Although the literal sense remains rooted in nautical warfare and seafaring, the figurative expression is now at least as common. The word is particularly useful in journalism, politics, sport, and business, where it conveys not merely an obstacle to success but active frustration of hopes or prospects. It is also related to the ship's scupper, an opening in its side through which water can drain overboard.
To disable or sink a ship by damaging its hull so that it takes on water.
"The attackers scuppered the vessel with gunfire along its waterline."
This is primarily a nautical and historical sense.
To ruin or frustrate someone's chances, plans, or prospects.
"The unexpected resignation scuppered the company's expansion plans."
This figurative sense is common in British and American English and is often used in journalism and formal reporting.
A single act of scuppering can send a ship to the bottom—or, figuratively, destroy someone's prospects.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scuppering come from?
The word comes from the 17th-century English noun scupper, denoting an opening in a ship's side through which water drained, and that noun is generally traced to a Dutch maritime term. The verb developed from the maritime sense of disabling a ship by damaging it below the waterline. Its figurative use for ruining someone's plans or prospects became established during the 19th century.
Related word forms
How scuppering is actually used
The literal nautical sense is relatively uncommon in everyday speech, whereas the figurative sense—meaning to ruin or thwart—is established in formal and informal British and American English.
Easily confused with scuppering
Scupper can be a verb meaning to disable or sink a ship, while it can also name an opening in a ship's side through which water drains overboard.