verb [VN] (BrE, informal)
1 to prevent a horse from winning a race, for example by giving it drugs:
The horse was nobbled by a doping gang.
2 to persuade sb to do what you want, especially illegally, by offering them money:
his attempts to nobble the jury
3 to prevent sb from achieving what they want
SYNTHWART
4 to catch sb or get their attention, especially when they are unwilling:
He was nobbled by the press who wanted details of the affair.
nobbling noun [U]
