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Region: General | Usage example: He shot himself in the foot by leaking the memo.

Shoot oneself in the foot

Meaning

Do something self-defeating.

Usage

Used when a mistake causes self-inflicted problems.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Literal accident harming one's own ability to fight.

Military contexts from the firearm era warn about such accidents.

Related Idioms

Shoot yourself in the foot

Harm yourself through your own actions.

Get off on the right foot

Start something well.

Put your foot in your mouth

Say something embarrassing.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.