dig (one's) own grave
dig (one's) own grave
To do something that has or will have negative consequences that are easily able to be foreseen. If you don't turn in your project, you're digging your own grave. There's no way you'll get a decent grade without it! I'm afraid I'm digging my own grave by turning down the promotion. A: "Man, you dug your own grave when you insulted the CEO's wife at the Christmas party." B: "I didn't know that's who she was, OK?"
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
dig one's own grave
Fig. to be responsible for one's own downfall or ruin. If you try to cheat the bank, you will be digging your own grave. Those politicians have dug their own grave with their new tax bill. They won't be reelected.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
dig one's own grave
Seriously harm oneself, cause one's own ruin or downfall. For example, If Sam pursues that course, he'll be digging his own grave. [First half of 1900s]
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.
dig your own grave
If you dig your own grave, you create serious problems for yourself by doing something foolish. I don't feel sorry for him — he's dug his own grave as far as I'm concerned.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
dig your own grave
do something foolish which causes you to fail or leads to your downfall. 1995 Colin Bateman Divorcing Jack Then I thought about Patricia again and how much I was missing her and how I'd dug my own grave over the phone.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
dig your own ˈgrave
,dig a ˈgrave for yourself
do something that will bring harm to yourself: If you give up your job now, you’ll be digging your own grave, because you won’t find it easy to get another one.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017