cut off one's nose to spite one's face
Harmful self-sabotage motivated
To cut off one's nose to spite one's face is to harm oneself in an attempt to harm someone else, or to let resentment drive self-destructive choices.
The image is of disfiguring yourself to upset another person—an obviously foolish trade.
Refusing the settlement just to drag things out is cutting off your nose to spite your face.
- paint oneself into a cornerCause your own predicament
- backfireYield unintended consequences
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- self-sabotageUndermining your own goals
- counterproductiveHindering intended outcome
misstep · impulsiveness · vindictiveness · error · burn bridges · defiance · pyrrhic · self-destruction · self-inflicted wound · blow it · stubbornness · short-sightedness · throw the baby out with the bathwater · pride · penny wise, pound foolish · overreaction · mess up · shoot oneself in the foot
cut off one's nose to spite one's facelook out for number one
Favor your own interests
self-preservation · enlightened self-interest · pragmatism · prudence · strategic thinking
cut off one's nose to spite one's facekeep a cool head
Remain rational despite stress
restraint · equanimity · forbearance · sangfroid · magnanimity