1. Home
2. Idioms
3. spike

spike

---

---

spike somebody's guns

to spoil someone's plans

Usage notes: In the past, soldiers put spikes (= thin, pointed pieces of metal) into their enemies' guns in order to stop them working.

The African runner spiked her guns, overtaking her in the final minute.

See also: gun, spike

spike

1. n. a hypodermic needle; a hypodermic syringe and needle; a medicine dropper and a needle. (Drugs.) The addict caught some strange disease from a dirty spike.

2. tv. to add ether or alcohol to beer, originally by injecting it through the cork with a hypodermic needle; to add alcohol to a nonalcoholic drink. (see also spiked.) He spiked the beer with ether, which is a dangerous thing to do.

3. tv. to puncture an idea. I explained the plan, but the boss spiked it immediately.

spiked

1. mod. having to do with a drink with alcohol added; having to do with a punch with an alcoholic content. Is the punch spiked? I want some without.

2. mod. alcohol or drug intoxicated. I knew that Mrs. Wilmington-Thorpe was spiked when she belched like a real country thunder-boomer.

3. mod. having to do with hair that stands up straight. His spiked hair wouldn’t look so bad if it wasn’t orange.

See also: spike