subordinate, Snuff out. thorn in Beijing's side, She even had to battle a former subordinate for her party's nomination.

Supporters and relatives now fear that Mr. Wu could be deported to China, where he would likely face persecution from the Chinese Communist Party. Under China’s leader, Xi Jinping, the government has gone to great lengths to snuff out political expression, including by arresting human rights lawyers and activists. Two of the participants in the 2019 meeting are still serving lengthy prison sentences.

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吳先生的支持者和親屬現在擔心他可能會被遣返回中國，在那裡他很可能面臨中國共產黨的迫害。在中國領導人習近平的領導下，中國政府不遺餘力地壓制政治表達，包括逮捕人權律師和活動人士。 2019年那次會議的兩名參與者至今仍在服刑。

British Museum

The Holy Thorn Reliquary. This precious jewel of gold, enamel and gems is formed around one of the most important of Christian relics, a humble thorn, supposedly from the Crown of Thorns worn by Christ at his Crucifixion. Made in Paris, around 1400. WB.67

Taiwan's first female President Tsai Ing-wen is a thorn in mainland China's side and this may have worked to her advantage as a crucial election looms.

When the island became the first Asian society to legalise gay marriage last year, Ms Tsai made global headlines, but was also criticised for going against majority public opinion in Taiwan.

Earlier, she faced accusations of nearly causing an electricity shortage with her promotion of green energy. When she tried to give all workers two days off a week, she found herself accused of hurting rather than increasing worker earnings and holiday.

Low wages and controversial pension reform also pulled down her approval ratings to as low as 15% late last year. She even had to battle a former subordinate for her party's nomination.

Being a thorn in Beijing's side may have worked to Tsai Ing-wen's advantage as crucial elections loom.


BBC.COM

Taiwan election: How Tsai stayed one step ahead

Subordinate generally means holding a lower or secondary rank, importance, or position. It can function as an adjective, a noun (referring to a person or thing of lesser status), or a verb (the act of treating something as less important). [1, 2, 3]

Core Meanings by Part of Speech

Adjective: Lower in rank or importance. Example: In a corporate hierarchy, a manager's instructions are followed by their subordinate employees. [1, 2]
Noun: A person working under the authority or control of another person in an organization. Example: The CEO delegated the project to a trusted subordinate. [1, 2]
Verb: To treat something as secondary or of lesser value compared to something else. Example: The company was criticized for subordinating employee safety to profit. [1, 2]

Snuff out is a phrasal verb with three main meanings: to extinguish a flame, to abruptly end a process or idea, and slang for to kill someone. It is derived from the historical action of pinching or smothering a candle wick to put out the light. [1, 2, 3, 4]

The phrase can be used in both literal and figurative contexts: [1]

Extinguishing a flame: To put out a candle or fire.
• Example: "She snuffed out the candles before leaving the room." [1, 2]
Ending or suppressing something: To abruptly stop, destroy, or suppress an activity, feeling, or resistance.
• Example: "The government forces quickly snuffed out the rebellion." [1, 2, 3]
Killing (slang): To murder or violently end someone's life.
• Example: "The mob boss threatened to snuff him out if he talked to the police." [1, 2, 3]