blow up in (your) face

to unexpectedly fail.

The military does not rush into a situation that could blow up in their faces.

Carey's efforts to explain the need for staff reductions exploded in his face.

Related vocabulary: have egg on your face

• mind over matter
• Mind own business!
• mind p's and q's
• mind-reader
• Mind step.
• mind the store
• the top of the line
• the top of the tree
• the trouble with
• the trouble with someone
• the trouble with something
• the twilight zone
• the upper crust
• the villain of the piece
• the way things are
• the way things are going
• the wheel has come full circle.
• the wheel has turned full circle.
• the wheels are turning
• the whole ball of wax
• the whole bit
• the whole caboodle
• the whole enchilada
• the whole kaboodle
• the whole kit and caboodle