Definition

1. Verb:
   • To sabotage: To deliberately destroy, damage, or obstruct something, especially for political or strategic advantage, often in a secretive or underhanded manner.
   • To undermine: To weaken or impair gradually or insidiously, often by eroding the foundation or support of a plan, agreement, or authority.
   • To torpedo: To ruin or sink a plan, project, or negotiation, causing it to fail suddenly and completely.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đối thủ đang tìm cách phá ngầm thương vụ hợp tác. (The rival is seeking ways to sabotage the cooperation deal.)
  • Những tin đồn ác ý đó nhằm phá ngầm uy tín của giám đốc. (Those malicious rumors aim to undermine the director's credibility.)
  • Một yêu sách bất ngờ đã phá ngầm toàn bộ cuộc đàm phán. (A sudden demand torpedoed the entire negotiation.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in political, diplomatic, or business contexts to describe covert actions intended to cause failure. It implies acting from within or through hidden channels, not through open confrontation.

Variants and Related Words

• Phá hoại ngầm (v): covert sabotage; subversive destruction.
  • Hành động phá hoại ngầm đường ống dẫn dầu. (An act of covert sabotage on the oil pipeline.)

Synonyms

• Sabotage: deliberate destruction.
• Undermine: weaken insidiously.
• Subvert: undermine the power of.
• Scuttle: deliberately cause to fail.

Related Idioms

• "Đâm sau lưng" (to stab in the back): While not identical, this idiom shares the connotation of a treacherous, hidden action that harms someone's efforts, similar to the secretive nature of .

1. Sabotage, undermine, torpedo