clip the wings

verb

Roget 275: move slowly etc. adv.; creep, crawl, lag, slug, drawl, linger, loiter, saunter; plod, trudge, stump along, lumber; trail, drag; dawdle etc. (be inactive) 683; grovel, worm one's way, steal along; job on, rub on, bundle on; toddle, waddle, wabble^†, slug, traipse, slouch, shuffle, halt, hobble, limp, caludicate^†, shamble; flag, falter, trotter, stagger; mince, step short; march in slow time, march in funeral procession; take one's time; hang fire etc. (be late) 133.    retard, relax; slacken, check, moderate, rein in, curb; reef; strike sail, shorten sail, take in sail; put on the drag, apply the brake; clip the wings; reduce the speed; slacken speed, slacken one's pace; lose ground.    ... show more

Roget 645: be useless etc. adj.; go a begging etc. (redundant) 641; fail etc. 732.    seek after impossibilities, strive after impossibilities; use vain efforts, labor in vain, roll the stone of Sisyphus, beat the air, lash the waves, battre l'eau avec un baton [Fr.], donner un coup d'epee dans l'eau [Fr.], fish in the air, milk the ram, drop a bucket into an empty well, sow the sand; bay the moon; preach to the winds, speak to the winds; whistle jigs to a milestone; kick against the pricks, se battre contre des moulins [Fr.]; lock the stable door when the steed is stolen, lock the barn door after the horse is stolen etc. (too late) 135; hold a farthing candle to the sun; cast pearls before swine etc. (waste) 638; carry coals to Newcastle etc. (redundancy) 641; wash a blackamoor white etc. (impossible) 471.    render useless etc. adj.; dismantle, dismast, dismount, disqualify, disable; unrig; cripple, lame etc. (injure) 659; spike guns, clip the wings; put out of gear.    ... show more

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