English Explanatory Dictionary

hoist by one's own petard

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Hurt or destroyed by one's own plot or device intended for another; "blown up by one's own bomb".

Pronunciation

en-au-hoist by one's own petard.ogg

Word forms

hoist by one's own petard hoist with one's own petard hoist on one's own petard hoisted by one's own petard

Etymology

From the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, see quotations.

Related words

beat someone at their own game he who digs a pit for others falls in himself Leopards Eating Faces Party like turkeys voting for Christmas own goal rod for one's back shoot oneself in the foot the biter bit the shoe is on the other foot turn the tables
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