To fuck up in a way that results in a media frenzy. Whether it be figuratively or literally. Derived from Gary Powell, the Apple employee who lost the next-generation iPhone prototype.
Gary powelled when he got drunk at a bar and lost the new iPhone prototype.
Verb (Int, Past ). 1. To have been set up to be hung out to dry by one's superiors. 2. To have had one's public reputation intentionally ruined by one's superiors. 3. To have had one's public reputation trashed for nothing more than malicious amusement or to harm future political aspirations.
"Dave, the manager showed the CEO records that you were responsible for the Hayman fiasco. I know you weren't even on that part project, but he figured it was him or you and he can doctor the accounts."
"Our CFO was powelled in the press by the Chairman. He didn't even come onboard until after the irregularities had stopped, but now he can't get a job anywhere."
"Man, no way he can run for President after he was powelled at the UN."
"Where on earth have my chewits gone? i think i've been powelled!"
"Someone's left their Tangfastics out, they are definitely getting powelled at some point"
When you lose your job because the head of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell raised interest rates quickly to controlinflation.
If you get Powelled, it is ironic because it is Jerome Powell and the Frderal Reserve that kept interest rates at multi decade lows, which is probably why you got the job in the first place.
I should have known better than to go along with Mick and Keith's plan to go on an Antarctic tour ... now that it has turned into a disaster, it's clear I've been colin powelled.
Brought to public attention by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in the book on the fall of Richard Nixon, All The President’s Men, ratfucker was Nixon’s term for a political operative who sows chaos among opponents; an agent provocateur. It is thought to have originated among campus political rivalries at USC, and seems to have some usage in the US military.
Along with Nixon’s other ratfuckers, Roger Stone caused fights at otherwise peaceful Democratic Party protests to generate a false narrative that the Democrats were violent and dangerous.