shoot (oneself) in the foot


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shoot (oneself) in the foot

To damage or impede one's own plans, progress, or actions through foolish actions or words. He'd have a real shot at winning the election if he didn't keep shooting himself in the foot with such inflammatory remarks. I think we shot ourselves in the foot by firing her, because she knew more about the project than anyone else.
See also: foot, shoot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

shoot oneself in the foot

Fig. to cause oneself difficulty; to be the author of one's own misfortune. I am a master at shooting myself in the foot. Again, he shot himself in the foot by saying too much to the press.
See also: foot, shoot
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

shoot oneself in the foot

Foolishly harm one's own cause, as in He really shot himself in the foot, telling the interviewer all about the others who were applying for the job he wanted . This colloquial term alludes to an accidental shooting as opposed to a deliberate one done so as to avoid military service.
See also: foot, shoot
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

shoot yourself in the foot

COMMON If you shoot yourself in the foot, you do or say something stupid which causes problems for you or harms your chances of success. If I was to insult the contestants I would be shooting myself in the foot. The shop ran a 25 per cent off sale early in December. It now looks as if it shot itself in the foot, attracting people who meant to shop there anyway to do so during the promotion instead.
See also: foot, shoot
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

shoot yourself in the foot

inadvertently make a situation worse for yourself; demonstrate gross incompetence. informal
1997 Spectator The only thing the Royal Opera seems to have done successfully is shoot itself in the foot.
See also: foot, shoot
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

shoot yourself in the ˈfoot

(informal) do or say something stupid which is against your own interests: You’d better prepare your argument carefully — you don’t want to shoot yourself in the foot.
See also: foot, shoot
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

shoot oneself in the foot

tv. to cause oneself difficulty; to be the author of one’s own doom. Again, he shot himself in the foot with his open and honest dealings with the press.
See also: foot, shoot
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

shoot (oneself) in the foot

To do or say something that inadvertently undermines one's interests.
See also: foot, shoot
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

shoot oneself in the foot, to

To hurt one’s own cause by mistake. This expression calls up the image of someone holding a firearm pointed down and accidentally discharging it. Although the effect is the same, it must be distinguished from injuring oneself intentionally in order to avoid military service (or to be sent home from the front).
See also: shoot, to
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
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