What does the saying "Cutting off your nose to spite your face" mean?

Question

It's from a song (Straylight Run)

restofmoose · Accepted Answer

its like swatting a fly with a nuclear bomb

JelliclePat · Answer

It means to make a bad situation worse. For instance, if a person was ugly and cut off his nose, it wouldn't make him look any better; in fact, it would make him even uglier.  Usually, the act that would make the situation worse is done out of spite or pure stubbornness.

kaleanakay · Answer

Cutting off your nose to spite your face means don't do something to worsen a already bad situation. Example would be if your late for a class that you need to graduate in June and you get yelled at by the instructor. don't cuss her/him out and walk out of the class! you may have to stay another semester!

April · Answer

I think it basically means trying to get revenge on someone/something in a way that will also hurt you. Like if I was mad because my car broke down and then I kicked it, and then it broke even more and I also broke my foot, that would be an example. :)

Anonymous · Answer

is an expression used to describe a needlessly spiteful or self-destructive overreaction to a problem

Dont overreact to a problem and destroy yourself more than what the problem actually was

Anonymous · Answer

it means that say someone did something minor say insulted your work . if you quit your job claming it was the principal of the matter that was key to quitting that would be one sample of the meaning of the quote.

Anonymous · Answer

i wish i could tell you the answer to this question but sadly..i have no idea myself

Catlady · Answer

check out this entry on wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutting_off_the_nose_to_spite_the_face

Knuckledragger · Answer

you're hurting yourself, just to hurt me

PEACHES · Answer

IT MEANS YOU DO AWAY WITH SOMETHING THAT YOU BENEFIT FROM.

Trending News

What does the saying "Cutting off your nose to spite your face" mean?

12 Answers