have one's legs cut out from under
have one's feet cut out from under
have one's knees cut out from under
cut the legs out from under
kick the legs out from under

Stern felt as if he had had his legs cut out from under him.

He showed how they had their legs cut out from under them every step of the way by arrogant ideologues in Washington.

His horse had its legs cut out from under it and lay screaming like a woman in that shrill manner only horses dying have.

"Transit systems all over the state have had their legs cut out from under them by the state because of the budget meltdown in Sacramento," Buffa said.

"There is a substantial public interest in ensuring that no individual or corporation has their legs cut out from under them while these difficult issues are resolved," Heaton said at a hearing, according to the Becket Fund.

34 Points Despite Injury "I think I had my legs cut out from under me," said Jordan, who led the Bulls with 34 points in the game but scored only 8 in the second half.

The only man who seemed likely to eclipse him was going to have the feet cut out from under him.

Given a typical urban or suburban environment, having its feet cut out from under it could very well be the last straw.

Milwaukee’s Bill Hall hit a one-out double in the seventh, right after Zambrano made a catch of Ryan Braun’s popup near the mound and had his feet cut out from under him by sliding Cubs’ first baseman Derrek Lee.