IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishdig one's own grave
Meaning: To cause one's own downfall.
Example: “Every lie he told was digging his own grave.”
Origin: The image of someone preparing their own burial. The figurative use is recorded from the 17th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Swedish: gräva sin egen grav Literally: To dig one's own grave
More English idioms
- wouldn't hurt a fly Is very gentle and harmless.
- in borrowed plumes Pretending to qualities or achievements that belong to someone else.
- like two peas in a pod Very similar in looks or character.
- cool as a cucumber Very calm, especially under pressure.
- in broad daylight Openly, during the day, when anyone could see.
- not my circus, not my monkeys It's not my problem, so I'm staying out of it.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- The receiver is as bad as the thief. Accepting stolen goods makes you complicit in the crime, not merely a passive bystander.
- If there were no receivers there would be no thieves. Demand for stolen goods creates the market incentive that drives theft itself.
- He that reckons without his host must reckon again. Failing to consult those involved in plans leads to miscalculation and necessary revision.
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