Scuppers Meaning in English

word · lemma: scupper

US

ˈskəpɝz

SKUH-perz

UK

skˈʌpəz

SKUH-puhz

Definition

Scuppers are openings on the side of a ship or boat that let water drain off the deck. In British English slang, 'to scupper' can also mean to ruin or sabotage something.

Usage & Nuances

Formal when used for ships; informal or slang when meaning ruin/sabotage (mainly British English: 'The plan was scuppered'). Rarely used outside nautical or UK contexts. Common noun phrase: 'over the scuppers' (completely full).

• Spanish: desagües (barco) - sabotea (del verbo 'scupper')
• Portuguese (BR): alçapões (barco) - arruína (do verbo 'scupper')
• Portuguese (PT): scuppers (navio) - arruina (do verbo 'scupper')
• Chinese (Simplified): 排水口（船用）- 破坏（作动词）
• Chinese (Traditional): 排水口（船用）- 破壞（作動詞）
• Hindi: स्कपर्स (जहाज के पानी के लिए छेद) - असफल कर देना (क्रिया)
• Arabic: صفاية (سفينة) - يُفشل (فعل)
• Bengali: স্কাপার - ডেকের জল নিস্কাশনের ছিদ্র
• Russian: шпигаты - разрушить (разг., переносный смысл)
• Japanese: スカッパー（排水口） - 台無しにする（英俗語）
• Vietnamese: lỗ thoát nước boong tàu - phá hỏng (tiếng lóng Anh)
• Korean: 스커퍼(배의 배수구) - 망치다(영국 속어)
• Turkish: lazım - engellemek (İngilizce argo)
• Urdu: سکپر (جہاز کے کنارے کا سوراخ) - ناکام بنانا (برطانوی بول چال)
• Indonesian: lubang pembuangan air (di kapal) - menggagalkan (slang Inggris)

Example Sentences

The rainwater flows off the deck through the scuppers.

basic

Make sure the scuppers are not blocked.

basic

Water spills over the scuppers in a storm.

basic

The sailors opened the scuppers to clear water from the deck quickly.

natural

Heavy rain almost sent water pouring over the scuppers last night.

natural

Their last-minute changes totally scuppers our travel plans.

natural