petard (redirected from hoisting by own petard)

be hoist by/with your own petard (formal)

if you are hoist by your own petard, something that you did in order to bring you advantages or to harm someone else is now causing serious problems for you. The government, who have made such a point of criticizing the opposition's morals now find themselves hoist by their own petard as yet another minister is revealed as having an illicit affair.

See also: hoist

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hoist with your own petard

to be harmed by something that was intended by you to harm someone else. The most enjoyable moment in any action film occurs when the villain is hoist with his own petard.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of hoist by your own petard (= blown into the air by your own explosive device), an expression made popular in Shakespeare's play, “Hamlet”

See also: hoist