What Does "Cut off One's Nose to Spite One's Face" Mean?
"Cut off one's nose to spite one's face" is an English idiom. It means "to act out of spite, harming oneself in the process."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "cut off one's nose to spite one's face" used in a sentence:- If you quit this job without having another lined up, aren't you just cutting off your nose to spite your face?
- She refused to join the family gathering, but really, she's just cutting off her nose to spite her face.
- Don't cut off your nose to spite your face; think things through.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Cut off One's Nose to Spite One's Face" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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