dig (one's) own grave

(redirected from digging their own graves)

dig (one's) own grave

To do something that has or will have negative consequences that are easily able to be foreseen. If you don't turn in your project, you're digging your own grave. There's no way you'll get a decent grade without it! I'm afraid I'm digging my own grave by turning down the promotion.

See also: dig, grave, own

dig one's own grave

Fig. to be responsible for one's own downfall or ruin. If you try to cheat the bank, you will be digging your own grave. Those politicians have dug their own grave with their new tax bill. They won't be reelected.

See also: dig, grave, own

dig one's own grave

Seriously harm oneself, cause one's own ruin or downfall. For example, If Sam pursues that course, he'll be digging his own grave. [First half of 1900s]

See also: dig, grave, own

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

dig your own grave

If you dig your own grave, you create serious problems for yourself by doing something foolish. I don't feel sorry for him — he's dug his own grave as far as I'm concerned.

See also: dig, grave, own

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

dig your own grave

do something foolish which causes you to fail or leads to your downfall.

1995 Colin Bateman Divorcing Jack Then I thought about Patricia again and how much I was missing her and how I'd dug my own grave over the phone.

See also: dig, grave, own

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

dig your own ˈgrave

dig a ˈgrave for yourself

do something that will bring harm to yourself: If you give up your job now, you’ll be digging your own grave, because you won’t find it easy to get another one.

See also: dig, grave, own

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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References in periodicals archive ?

Players at international level know the pros and cons of getting involved in corrupt activities like match and spot fixing, and are digging their own graves by still doing such practices, Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed said on the eve of T20 match against Australia in Abu Dhabi.

Players digging their own grave with fixing, says Pakistan skipper Sarfraz

figure By LETTERS Tea farmers are busy digging their own graves even as the strategic thinkers who are supposed to protect them wring their hands.As the tea hawking practice gathers pace, so will the unravelling of an 80-year-old industry that has withstood some tough eras.

State should save tea industry from dishonest middlemen

The way Hindutva fringe elements have gone berserk and allegedly wipe out those who hold a different viewpoint, they are digging their own graves. The very concept of national integration is in danger as some of the senior leaders and ministers of the ruling dispensation vociferously argue in favour of Hindu Rashtra.

A Signal For BJP: Change Track

He is standing in front of a number of people in the video, who are apparently digging their own graves. The group of people, whose faces are blurred in the video, seems to be soldier- prisoners kept hostage by the Middle Eastern extremist group.

Masked Terrorist in IS Propaganda Video 'May be' Canadian

"The simple fact is that tour operators and so many firms in travel are simply digging their own graves because there is so much spare capacity still left to fill."

Plenty of choice for those still after a holiday bargain

But those who "half-make a revolution", said the French revolutionary St Just, "are digging their own graves".

NO HALF MEASURES

They are just digging their own graves by propelling violence," he added.

Kashmir has been and will be a part of India: Farooq Abdullah

The ruling parties are digging their own graves,'' Japanese Communist Party chief Kazuo Shii said.

2ND LD: Diet approves 12-day extension, delaying election to July 29

OUR children are digging their own graves with knifes, forks and straws, according to health guru Patrick Holford.

INCREASE TAX ON SUGAR SAYS TV HEALTH GURU

Hopefully, abusers will go on digging their own graves.

VIEWPOINT; ALISON TAYLOR MY SHOUT

There is a minority making noise about this, but it's pointless, and they are digging their own graves. I'm sure they are being guided by a foreign enemy."

Iranian students debate need for separation of religion, government. (People & Events)

Saddam said: "The forces of evil will carry their coffins on their backs, die in disgraceful failure, taking their schemes back with them or digging their own graves."

The forces of evil will carry coffins on their backs, die in disgraceful failure, or digging their own graves - SADDAM HUSSEIN YESTERDAY

But as the French revolutionary St Juste said those who "half-make a revolution are digging their own graves".