sign one's own death warrant
Meaning: To do something that will cause one's own ruin.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “By insulting the chairman in the meeting, he signed his own death warrant.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: A death warrant is the official order for an execution. The figurative use, for bringing about one's own downfall, is found from the 18th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Signer son arrêt de mort — literally: To sign one's own death warrant
More idioms — Daily Life
- child's play — Something very easy to do.
- at death's door — Very close to dying, or feeling extremely ill.
- play devil's advocate — To argue against something, not out of belief, but to test the argument.
- every which way — In all directions, in disorder.
- long time no see — A friendly greeting to someone one has not seen for a long time.
- a Judas kiss — An act of apparent friendship that hides betrayal.
More English idioms
- a Tower of Babel — A noisy scene where many people speak different languages, or a confusion of voices.
- the ball is in your court — It is now your turn to act or decide.
- all hands on deck — Everyone is needed to help right now.
- a banana republic — A small, politically unstable country dominated by a corrupt elite or foreign business.
- pick holes in — To find small faults in something, often unfairly.
- go under the knife — To have a surgical operation.
From our compliments & insults
- Eres un crack — You're brilliant — a total star at what you do.
- Eres muy majo/a — You're a lovely, kind, and genuine person — the nicest way to compliment someone's charac…
- Tienes mucho corazón — You're extraordinarily generous and warm — you give more than you need to.