He tried to cheat, but he only singed his wings.
singe one's wings
idiomTo sustain harm, loss or ruin by doing some risky or perilous deed.
Origin
disputed originAllusion to the tragic story from Hellenic mythology, where Icarus along with his father Daedalus befled the Cretan labyrinth of Knossos by flying with wings that his father had made from feathers and wax. Daedalus forewarned his son of flying neither too low nor too high, that the sea's dampness not clog his wings nor the sun's heat melt them; but Icarus unheeding his father's bidding flew too near to the sun, thereby melting the wax in his wings: so he tumbled out of the sky and fell into the Aegean Sea where he drowned.
She invested all her savings in that risky startup and singed her wings when it went bankrupt.
By recklessly challenging the established power structure, the young politician singed his wings and ended his career prematurely.
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abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
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ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 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”).
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afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
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air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
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air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
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albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.