# blow up in one's face

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/blow-up-in-ones-face
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To fail disastrously.

## Examples

- His risky plan to cheat on the test blew up in his face.
- She tried to hide the truth from her boss, but the lie blew up in her face when the records arrived.
- The ambitious political strategy, designed to secure a landslide victory, ultimately blew up in his face after the scandal reached the public.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.