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

• have dibs on
• have dibs on something
• have done more something than has had hot dinners
• have done more something than someone has had hot dinners
• have done more than has had hot dinners
• have done more than someone has had hot dinners
• have [done/seen/had etc.] more something than has had hot dinners
• have [done/seen/had etc.] more something than someone has had hot dinners
• have [done/seen/had etc.] more than has had hot dinners
• have [done/seen/had etc.] more than someone has had hot dinners
• have down on like a ton of bricks
• have down on you like a ton of bricks
• have down pat
• have down to a fine art
• have down to a science
• have ducks in a row
• have ear
• have ear to the ground
• have egg on face
• have egg on your face
• have end away
• have eye on
• have eye on someone
• have eye on something
• have eyes in the back of head