trips up
Makes someone falter
To trip up is to make a mistake or cause someone else to stumble—literally or figuratively.
A loose cable trips you up physically; a tricky question trips you up mentally.
The detail about the timeline tripped her up during cross-examination.
Often implies an error that wouldn't have happened with more care or attention.
- stumblesWalks unsteadily, nearly falling
- faltersLoses steadiness or confidence
- slips upMakes a mistake
- bunglesMishandles through clumsiness
- drops the ballFails a key responsibility
flounders · hinder · foil · blunder · throws off · undermine · confuse · throws for a loop · misstep · mislead · obstruct · ensnares · sabotage · slip · miscalculation · oversight · faux pas · gotcha