cut off nose to spite face


cut (one's) nose off to spite (one's) face

To use self-destructive means in an attempt to solve a problem or fix a situation. I know you're mad at your dad, but don't cut your nose off to spite your face—running away is only going to make your life harder.See also: cut, face, nose, off, spite

cut off (one's) nose to spite (one's) face

To use self-destructive means in an attempt to solve a problem or fix a situation. I know you're mad at your dad, but don't cut off your nose to spite your face—running away is only going to make your life harder.See also: cut, face, nose, off, spite

cut off (one's) nose to spite (one's) face

To injure oneself in taking revenge against another.See also: cut, face, nose, off, spite

cut off one's nose to spite one's face, to

To act out of pique in a way that injures oneself more than anyone else. The term appears about 1200 as a Latin proverb recorded by Peter of Blois. It was repeated in the mid-seventeenth century by Gedéon Tallemant des Réaux in recounting the history of France: “Henry IV understood very well that to destroy Paris would be, as they say, to cut off his nose to spite his face.”See also: cut, nose, off, spite