blew up in one's face
Scheme went wrong
When something blows up in one's face, it fails disastrously and unexpectedly, often harming the person who initiated it.
The image is of an explosive or volatile substance detonating prematurely: His scheme to frame his rival blew up in his face when the evidence pointed back to him.
The phrase emphasizes both the surprise and the self-inflicted nature of the failure.
- backfireYield unintended consequences
- shot oneself in the footHarmed own cause unintentionally
- misfireFailure to discharge
- go southWorsen or decline
- consequenceResult of an action
repercussion · fiasco · epic fail · crash and burn · train wreck · collapse · house of cards · gamble · best laid plans · undoing · flop · fall flat · regret · embarrassment · disappointment · hubris · boomerang · bad move
outcome
blew up in one's facepaid off
Yielded a positive result
worked out · succeeded · panned out · bore fruit · came through