hoist by (one's) own petard



Like this video? Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day!

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
LesleyLEZ-lee, LES-leeEnglish
AslÖG-Swedish
GloryGLAWR-eeEnglish (Rare)
Apollon-Greek Mythology
Redmond['redmənd]
Manuelamah-noo-E-lah (German), mah-NWE-lah (Italian)Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, German, Italian