take the wind out of (one's) sails

amaze astonish astound bemuse bewilder confound confuse daze dumbfound flabbergast knock out overcome overpower overwhelm paralyze rock shake up surprise

floor fog hit muddle petrify stagger stupefy

blow away bowl over knock over knock unconscious strike dumb

bore calm clarify clear up enlighten expect explain surrender yield

blank outwit thwart

baffle balk block bury checkmate circumvent confound contravene cook counterplot cross disappoint discomfit disconcert disprove foil invalidate neutralize nonplus nullify overturn puzzle quell reduce refute ruin scuttle shave shellac skunk spoil squash stump subdue subjugate surmount undo victimize

beat down beat the system cast down cause setback edge out nose out put end to throw for loop

abet aid allow approve assist clarify clear up endorse enlighten explain grow help open permit prove support surrender validate win yield

encourage give up inspirit lose

disprove explode flatten

discourage discredit disillusion humble

blow sky-high knock bottom out knock the props out (from under) poke full of holes shoot full of holes take down a peg

prove

praise

build up close sew