Attacked with a torpedo, or metaphorically, deliberately destroyed or ruined someone's plans or chances of success.
From Spanish 'torpedo,' which came from Latin 'torpidus' meaning 'numb or sluggish.' Early naval torpedoes were slow-moving weapons, and the metaphorical meaning developed during WWI when strategic plans were destroyed in naval warfare.
The slang usage of 'torpedoed' to mean 'sabotaged' exploded in popularity after World War I, showing how military technology creates new metaphors that eventually become everyday language—now your boss can 'torpedo' your project without weapons involved.
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