dig your own grave

dig (one's) own grave

To do something that has or will have negative consequences that are easily able to be foreseen. If you don't turn in your project, you're digging your own grave. There's no way you'll get a decent grade without it! I'm afraid I'm digging my own grave by turning down the promotion.
See also: dig, grave, own
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

dig your own grave

If you dig your own grave, you create serious problems for yourself by doing something foolish. I don't feel sorry for him — he's dug his own grave as far as I'm concerned.
See also: dig, grave, own
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

dig your own grave

do something foolish which causes you to fail or leads to your downfall.
1995 Colin Bateman Divorcing Jack Then I thought about Patricia again and how much I was missing her and how I'd dug my own grave over the phone.
See also: dig, grave, own
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

dig your own ˈgrave

,

dig a ˈgrave for yourself

do something that will bring harm to yourself: If you give up your job now, you’ll be digging your own grave, because you won’t find it easy to get another one.
See also: dig, grave, own
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • dig (one's) own grave
  • dig one's own grave
  • dig own grave
  • funeral
  • be (someone's) funeral
  • it's someone's funeral
  • expose (someone, something, or oneself) to (someone or something)
  • expose to
  • get away with murder
  • grub for (something)
References in periodicals archive
You can dig your own grave sometimes but I haven't done that, so it's great to be in the final."
RON'S ON CUE FOR A TREBLE; WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP New No.1 wants to add world title to UK crown
"I could have easily thought it isn't going my way and you can dig your own grave in some respects - but I haven't done that and it is good to be in the final and I amtaking nothing for granted."
O'Sullivan taking nothing for granted after crushing Hendry
Other warnings said "Dig your own grave" and "Your life will end, gunman paid".
Psychiatrist's stalker who made false rape claim faces lengthy jail sentence