blow up in one's face
Meaning: To fail spectacularly or cause a plan to collapse in an embarrassing way.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: The Absurd
Origin: The phrase pictures an explosion occurring in one's own hands or face—a plan that backfires with destructive force.
More idioms — The Absurd
- tilt at windmills — To waste effort fighting against imaginary enemies or pursuing hopeless causes.
- one is a poet and doesn't know it — Someone has unintentionally created a rhyme or spoken in verse without realizing it.
- train wreck — A spectacular, inevitable disaster that is witnessed by many people.
- break the bank — To win or spend so much money that a casino or financial institution loses its entire ava…
- Augean stables — An extremely filthy, corrupt, or morally decayed place or situation that seems impossible…
- play with house money — To take risks when one has nothing personal to lose, or to act recklessly because the sta…
More English idioms
- back up the truck — To make a large purchase by taking advantage of a favorable price.
- haul someone over the coals — To scold or reprimand someone severely for wrongdoing.
- make a fist of — To accomplish something with reasonable competence or success.
- welcome to my world — You are now experiencing something unpleasant that the speaker knows well and has dealt w…
- hash slinger — A cook or server in a cheap restaurant, often regarded as rude or inattentive.
- built different — Uniquely talented or operating by a different standard than ordinary people.
From our compliments & insults
- Eres más corto que las mangas de un chaleco — You're not the sharpest — a bit slow on the uptake.
- Du bist nicht die hellste Kerze auf der Torte — You're a little dim — not the smartest in the room.
- Tu as une cervelle de moineau — You're scatterbrained and forgetful.