shoot oneself in the foot
Fig. to cause oneself difficulty; to be the author of one's own misfortune. I am a master at shooting myself in the foot. Again, he shot himself in the foot by saying too much to the press.
shoot oneself in the foot
Foolishly harm one's own cause, as in He really shot himself in the foot, telling the interviewer all about the others who were applying for the job he wanted . This colloquial term alludes to an accidental shooting as opposed to a deliberate one done so as to avoid military service.
shoot oneself in the foot
tv. to cause oneself difficulty; to be the author of one’s own doom. Again, he shot himself in the foot with his open and honest dealings with the press.
shoot (oneself) in the foot
To do or say something that inadvertently undermines one's interests.
shoot oneself in the foot, to
To hurt one’s own cause by mistake. This expression calls up the image of someone holding a firearm pointed down and accidentally discharging it. Although the effect is the same, it must be distinguished from injuring oneself intentionally in order to avoid military service (or to be sent home from the front).