shoots oneself in the foot
Undermines own success
To shoot oneself in the foot is to sabotage one's own efforts through carelessness or poor judgment—to damage your own cause while trying to advance it.
The image is of someone so inept with a weapon that they injure themselves: He shot himself in the foot by insulting the interviewer.
The phrase emphasizes that the harm is self-inflicted and avoidable.
- repercussionsIndirect results of actions
- underminingWeakening by covert means
- impulsivityActing without considering consequences
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
misstep · self-inflicted wound · oversight · irrationality · backfire · overconfidence · self-destruction · regret · misjudgment · cognitive bias · lapse · self-handicapping · unforced error · own goal · slip-up · backlash · miscalculation · foot-in-mouth
shoots oneself in the footplays one's cards right
Acts strategically for advantage
looks out for number one · strategic thinking · looks before one leaps · hedges one's bets · knows which side one's bread is buttered on
shoots oneself in the foothits the mark
Achieves intended aim
nails it · comes through · sticks the landing · triumphs · wins the day