shot oneself in the foot
Undermined own success
To shoot oneself in the foot is to sabotage one's own efforts through carelessness or poor judgment.
The image is of accidentally wounding yourself with your own weapon: He really shot himself in the foot by insulting the hiring manager.
The past tense shot oneself in the foot describes such a blunder after it happens.
- drop the ballFail at a critical moment
- mess upDo badly, err
- screw upMake a mistake badly
- cut off one's nose to spite one's faceHarm yourself seeking revenge
- mistakeWrong action or decision
overconfidence · blunder · backfire · blow it · impulsivity · recklessness · own goal · error · slip-up · dig one's own grave · miscalculation · put one's foot in one's mouth · oversight · self-doubt · faux pas · counterproductive · burn one's bridges · procrastination
shot oneself in the footplayed one's cards right
Acted strategically for advantage
struck gold · hit the jackpot · made a killing · strategic brilliance · landed on one's feet
shot oneself in the footstrategic brilliance
Exceptional skill in planning
masterstroke · outmaneuvered · coup · checkmate · tactical genius
shot oneself in the foothedged one's bets
Guarded against total loss
prudent · played it safe · dotted the i's and crossed the t's
shoot, shoots, shooting, shooter, shooters, oneself, selves, selfish, selfless