an own goal

an own goal

1. In sports, a goal that a player accidentally scores for the opposing team. I can't believe we lost the championship because of an own goal. I was trying to get the puck out of our zone, but I scored an own goal—how mortifying!2. An action pursued because it seems beneficial but that ultimately has a detrimental effect. Sheila's speech was supposed to win her more supporters, but it became an own goal once she started ranting off-topic. The law seemed promising, but it has generated such strong opposition that it's become an own goal for the president.See also: goal, own

an own goal

BRITISHCOMMON An own goal is a course of action which is intended to bring you an advantage and which instead causes a problem for you. It was a classic own goal by the fashion house. They brought their prices down to attract more customers but lost the high-end customers that they already had. Note: In sports such as football and hockey, if someone scores an own goal, they accidentally score a goal for the team they are playing against by knocking the ball into their own net. See also: goal, own