Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
cut-off-one's-nose-to-spite-one's-face
idiom
/kʌt ɔf wʌnz noʊz tu spaɪt wʌnz feɪs/
Definition
To harm oneself in order to retaliate against someone else.
Examples
- He decided to quit his job in anger, but he was just cutting off his nose to spite his face.
- By refusing to cooperate, she was only cutting off her nose to spite her face, making things harder for herself.
- Don’t make that decision out of spite; it’s just cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Meaning
This phrase is used to describe a self-defeating or self-destructive action taken in retaliation or out of anger, ultimately resulting in more harm to oneself than to the intended target.
Synonyms
- Self-sabotage
- Self-destructive behavior
- Cutting off one’s nose to spite oneself
