Idioms

shoot yourself in the foot

This page is about the idiom shoot yourself in the foot

Meaning

If you shoot yourself in the foot, you harm yourself in some way by doing something stupid or making a silly mistake.

For example

  • Why does Kerry always shoot herself in the foot by saying the wrong thing?

  • The Minister of Agriculture shot himself in the foot by saying that farmers couldn't understand economics because they weren't educated. He resigned soon after.

Quick Quiz

The head of the football association shot himself in the foot

a. by telling a racist joke

b. by making some good decisions

c. by playing around with a gun
a) by telling a racist joke b) by making some good decisions c) by playing around with a gun

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey