blow up in (one's) face
To have a plan go wrong or awry. Mike was trying to sabotage my campaign, but the plan blew up in his face when I overhead him talking about it. Tina's decision to invest only in technology stocks has really blown up in her face. In an attempt to break them up, I told Donny all of the embarrassing things I know about Anne, but he seemed to find them all charming. Guess my plan blew up in my face.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
blow up in someone's face
1. Lit. to blow up or explode suddenly. The bomb blew up in the terrorist's face. The firecracker blew up in his face and injured him.
2. Fig. [for something] to get ruined while someone is working on it. All my plans blew up in my face. It is terrible for your life to get ruined and blow up in your face.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
blow up in your face
or explode in your face
COMMON If a situation blows up in your face or explodes in your face, it has a bad result that you did not expect. His outburst yesterday could blow up in his face. Those that have supported his cause will certainly question his motives. The scandal has exploded in the government's face.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
blow up in your face
(of an action, plan, or situation) go drastically wrong with damaging effects to yourself.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
blow up in somebody’s ˈface
(of a situation, plan, project, etc.) end or fail suddenly, with bad results: Starting up the business was difficult, and it all nearly blew up in his face when his partner fell sick at the last minute.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017