hoist by (one's) own petard



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hoist by (one's) own petard

To be injured, ruined, or defeated by one's own action, device, or plot that was intended to harm another; to have fallen victim to one's own trap or schemes. (Note: "hoist" in this instance is the simple past-tense of the archaic form of the verb, "hoise.") I tried to get my boss fired by planting drugs on him, but I was hoist by my own petard when the police caught me with them beforehand.
See also: hoist, own, petard

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Auchinleck['ɔ:kin'lek]
Tendaji-Eastern African, Swahili
Balderstone['bɔ:ldəstəun]
Hamid (1)-Arabic, Persian
LÍDa-Czech
Doroteiadoo-roo-TAY-əPortuguese