Meaning of be one's own worst enemy | Babel Free

Definitions

To act contrary to one's own interests; to cause problems for oneself; to self-sabotage.

idiomatic, intransitive, irregular

Equivalents

Examples

“[Mr. Haven] objects to our making the Liberator a free, impartial, independent journal, allowing all sides to be fairly heard (as we invariably do) in its columns. He insists on making it (what it has never been) the official organ of the Anti-Slavery Society; […] The American Anti-Slavery Society has an official organ,— […] that paper scrupulously adheres to its one object, excluding from its columns the discussion of those subjects which are so distasteful to Mr. Haven in the Liberator. That paper, therefore, cannot justly be charged with "being its own worst enemy."”

“"We won't talk of that now," answered Mrs. Forbes. "Mark is his own worst enemy. Good night." True. No enemy however powerful and malicious, can so work a man's ruin as his own unbridled passions and depraved appetites.”

“For each man is his own worst enemy, and has no foe more deadly than his own intemperance, which is sure to kill him, if the enemy be not quick.”

“He had been his own worst enemy. Once a prosperous lawyer, he had succumbed to the love of drink, and gradually lost his clients and his position.”

“So far as he could see, the girl had no screen future, though doubtless she was her own worst enemy. If someone had only taught her to be serious her career might have been worth while.”

“The Spanish arsonists have fled. […] But they are so blustery about their plans, they are their own worst enemy. Let's obtain two horses and then go into pursuit.”

“[Mauricio] Pochettino set his team up ideally to keep City at bay but once again, as they did in that Carabao Cup final loss to Liverpool, Chelsea were their own worst enemies as they squandered opportunities to banish memories of that reverse.”

CEFR level