Tirarsi la zappa sui piedi - To shoot oneself in the foot
Hi there everyone,
I have a question about a saying reported in the question's title.
In Italian there's this idiomatic expression "TIrarsi la zappa sui piedi", meaning doing something (accidentally) which causes difficulties to oneself. I found an English literal translation: "To shoot oneself in the foot". Is that fine?

Nonetheless, in Italy there are different corollary idioms, each of them related to the former but carrying a slight own different shade. Here they are, along with translations I found on the article (all of them almost literal)
- "segare/tagliare il ramo su cui si è appesi / seduti": "To saw off the bough/branch on which one is sitting."
- "scavarsi la fossa con le proprie mani": "dig one's own grave"

Are those fine? Do you have any suggestion or correction to point out? (Perhaps, differences amongst US/UK/AUS/African English)?

Thanks a lot for your attention and patience

Question

Tirarsi la zappa sui piedi - To shoot oneself in the foot
Hi there everyone,
I have a question about a saying reported in the question's title.
In Italian there's this idiomatic expression "TIrarsi la zappa sui piedi", meaning doing something (accidentally) which causes difficulties to oneself. I found an English literal translation: "To shoot oneself in the foot". Is that fine?

Nonetheless, in Italy there are different corollary idioms, each of them related to the former but carrying a slight own different shade. Here they are, along with translations I found on the article (all of them almost literal)
- "segare/tagliare il ramo su cui si è appesi / seduti": "To saw off the bough/branch on which one is sitting."
- "scavarsi la fossa con le proprie mani": "dig one's own grave"

Are those fine? Do you have any suggestion or correction to point out? (Perhaps, differences amongst US/UK/AUS/African English)?

Thanks a lot for your attention and patience

Answer

Ciao Diego,

Good questions!

The first answer is yes, we have 'to shoot yourself in the foot:'

'He shot himself in the foot by insulting his boss.'

The second one is no, but we have something similar, 'to bite the hand that feeds you.'

To dig your own your grave is also exactly the same.

The only expression I can think of with a branch is 'to offer someone an olive branch,' typically to reconcile after a problem.

Answer

Hi Sheila, thank you for your contribution.
Wuah, that expression sounds very vivid and funny :)

Answer

I agree with Robert. And then we also have 'to cut off your nose to spite your own face.'