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Shoot Oneself in the Foot

What Does "Shoot Oneself in the Foot" Mean?

homeidiomsShoot Oneself in the Foot
"Shoot oneself in the foot" is an English idiom. It means "to unintentionally or foolishly harm one's own interests or prospects through one's actions or decisions."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "shoot oneself in the foot" used in a sentence:
  • By refusing to compromise, the company shot itself in the foot and lost a valuable contract.
  • He had a promising job offer, but his rude behavior during the interview caused him to shoot himself in the foot.
  • Failing to communicate effectively with team members can result in shooting oneself in the foot in a collaborative project.
meaning for shoot oneself in the foot

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Shoot Oneself in the Foot" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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