sbarrare la strada

Italian

Verb

sbarràre la strada (first-person singular present sbàrro la strada, first-person singular past historic sbarrài la strada, past participle sbarràto la strada, auxiliary avére)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see sbarrare,‎ strada.
2. (figurative, by extension) (with a) to bring an end to, shut down, or impede

   lo stato ha deciso di sbarrare la strada ai narcotrafficanti

   the state decided to shut down (the operations of) the drug traffickers