Phrase guide

dig one's own grave

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To behave in a way that is likely to cause one to lose or fail, including, but not limited to, result in death.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cut off one's nose to spite one's face, dig oneself in a hole, shoot oneself in the foot, sign one's death warrant

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 自掘墳墓 /自掘坟墓 (zìjuéfénmù) — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • Chinese Mandarin: 自寻死路 (zìxúnsǐlù) — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • Danish: grave sin egen grav — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • Finnish: kaivaa omaa hautaansa — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • French: creuser sa tombe — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • French: creuser sa propre tombe — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • Hungarian: saját sírját ássa — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • Icelandic: grafa sér gröf — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • Japanese: 墓穴を掘る (boketsu o horu) — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • Malay: menggali kubur sendiri — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • Polish: wykopywać sobie/swój własny grób — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • Polish: wykopać sobie/swój własny grób — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • Portuguese: cavar a própria cova — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • Spanish: cavar su propia tumba — to act in a way expected to backfire
  • Swedish: gräva sin egen grav — to act in a way expected to backfire