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cut off one's nose to spite one's face

idiom
Meaning

To harm oneself as a result of attempting to harm an adversary.


Examples
SIMPLE

Don't cut off your nose to spite your face by quitting now.

CONTEXTUAL

By refusing to work with the team just to annoy his boss, he is cutting off his nose to spite his face.

COMPLEX

She rejected the generous settlement offer out of pure anger, effectively cutting off her nose to spite her face while leaving herself with nothing.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    abound in one's own sense

    To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.

  2. 02

    ace up one's sleeve

    A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.

  3. 03

    act one's age

    To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.

  4. 04

    act one's age, not one's shoe size

    Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).

  5. 05

    afraid of one's own shadow

    Exceptionally timid.

  6. 06

    air one's dirty laundry in public

    To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.

  7. 07

    air one's dirty linen in public

    Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.

  8. 08

    albatross around one's neck

    A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.

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