Scuppered a deal

Posted by Word Camel on February 20, 2002

In Reply to: Scuppered a deal posted by ESC on February 20, 2002

: "He alleges that Microsoft scuppered a 1998 deal with Compaq to produce..."

: Anyone know what "scuppered" means?

I looked up scupper in an American dictionary where it explains that a scupper is a nautical term for the holes at the side of a ship that allow the water to run off.

I have also heard it used to describe destroying a ship - if not by sinking than grounding. "After passengers ceased to visit the aging steam boat, the owners scuppered it."

So in the sentence you gave, it means that Microsoft deliberately destroyed the deal with Compac. And as it happens, that's completely consistent with Microsoft.

I suspect the Brits will find this use of scuppered in their dictionaries and it will be in the OED of course.

• Scuppered a deal masakim 02/20/02
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