to spin a cocoon and trap oneself; hoist by one's own petard
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to spin a cocoon and get trapped in it; (fig.) to be caught in one's own trap; to suffer from the consequences of one's own actions
Used to describe situations where one's own actions, originally intended to benefit oneself, end up causing trouble or restriction. It carries a negative or cautionary connotation.
Tā他
shì试
tú图
qī欺
piàn骗
kè客
hù户
，
jié结
guǒ果
zuò作
jiǎn茧
zì自
fù缚
，
shī失
qù去
le了
suǒ所
yǒu有
de的
shēng生
yì意
。
He tried to cheat his clients, but ended up being caught in his own trap and lost all his business.
Rú如
guǒ果
nǐ你
bù不
tīng听
qǔ取
bié别
rén人
de的
jiàn建
yì议
，
zhǐ只
huì会
zuò作
jiǎn茧
zì自
fù缚
。
If you don't listen to others' advice, you will only end up trapping yourself.
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Zhèng政
fǔ府
guò过
dù度
gān干
yù预
shì市
chǎng场
，
zuì最
zhōng终
zuò作
jiǎn茧
zì自
fù缚
，
dǎo导
zhì致
jīng经
jì济
tíng停
zhì滞
。
The government's excessive intervention in the market ultimately backfired, causing economic stagnation.