: to do something that is meant to harm someone else but that also harms the person who does it
You can refuse to talk to her if you like, but you're just cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Dictionary Entries Near cut off one's nose to spite one's face
cutoff man
cut off one's nose to spite one's face
cutoff saw
Cite this Entry
“Cut off one's nose to spite one's face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, //www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cut%20off%20one%27s%20nose%20to%20spite%20one%27s%20face. Accessed 10 Jan. 2024.
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Khi tìm hiểu về hoc tieng anh cho nguoi moi bat dau chắc hẳn các bạn đều cần biết sach hoc tieng anh hay và hiệu quả, vậy nên bạn có thể tham khảo phần mềm học tiếng anh giao tiếp hoặc học tại blog hoc tieng anh mien phi này nhé
1. To pay through the nose: nghĩa đen là trả tiền qua lỗ mũi, đó là điều khá đau đớn. Thành ngữ này có nghĩa là phải trả giá quá đắt cho một cái gì không đáng, tức là một giá cắt cổ. ex: George was so desperate for cash to pay 6 months overdue rent that he borrowed money at 5% a week. And now he is paying through the nose: Every week he is late he has to pay an extra 5%!
2. Cut off your nose to spite your face: nghĩa đen là cắt mũi mình đi để làm hại mặt mình, và nghĩa bóng là làm một điều gì đó với ý định hại người khác nhưng không ngờ chỉ hại mình mà thôi. ex: Mary got so mad at her boss she shouted at him in front of the whole staff. But she really cut off her nose to spite her face : after that he blocked every chance she had for promotion.
3. Plain as the nose on your face: nghĩa là một điều gì rõ rành rành y như cái mũi trên mặt mình vậy. ex: It’s plain as the nose on your face that Mark is better educated and more intelligent than most other people. His trouble is, he doesn’t try to hide this and scares away bosses who aren’t as smart.
'Cut one's nose off to spite one's face' = gọt bỏ mũi để làm đau mặt -> dùng cách không có lợi cho mình, tự làm tổn hại tới mình để giải quyết vấn đề.
Ví dụ
Divestment [thoái vốn đầu tư] from oil and gas could ‘cut off our nose to spite our face’, Aberdeenshire MP claims.
As tempting [hấp dẫn] as it might seem, his margins [biên lợi nhuận] are already so tight that he would be cutting off his nose to spite his face, and so has had to decline and wait for the money to come in
That’s why all these Chinese threats [đe dọa] about rare earths [đất hiếm] are mainly bluster [khoác lác], according to Bauman. Simply put, China won’t do it. “Ultimately, all of this means that the Chinese have to weigh the results of an export ban to the U.S. against the potential loss of their supply monopoly [độc quyền],” he says. “My guess is that the Chinese won't cut off their nose to spite their face.”
This article was co-authored by Tristen Bonacci and by wikiHow staff writer, Jessica Gibson. Tristen Bonacci is a Licensed English Teacher with more than 20 years of experience. Tristen has taught in both the United States and overseas. She specializes in teaching in a secondary education environment and sharing wisdom with others, no matter the environment. Tristen holds a BA in English Literature from The University of Colorado and an MEd from The University of Phoenix.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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The English language is full of unique expressions like "cut off your nose to spite your face" but what does that phrase mean? Chances are you were a little confused when you heard it used the first time, but don't worry! We'll help you figure out the meaning of the phrase and give you plenty of examples of how to use it.
- Usually, when people use the phrase, they give it as a warning—don't cut off your nose to spite your face. It means resist the urge to act in anger or haste before thinking of the consequences. You might see it in a conversation like this:
- Person 1: “Are you going to give the presentation even though you don't have all the data results back?” Person 2: “I'll be fine! I'll just wing it. Hopefully, the data ends up supporting what I say.”
- Person 1: “You're better off waiting until you have all the information. You don't want to cut off your nose to spite your face.”
- You could tell them "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face" as a reminder that they'll only make their problems worse. It's also a gentle reminder for them to keep their best interests in mind. You might use the phrase when:
- You're trying to calm down someone who's upset and trying to get even.
- You're telling someone to pause and think before acting.
- You're encouraging the person to focus on the bigger picture and their overall happiness.
- Sometimes, you'll hear someone use the phrase if they feel like they don't have any options and doing nothing would have consequences. You might hear it like this:
- "I may have cut off my nose to spite my face, but it's out of my hands now. I'll just have to live with the results."
- "I wasn't here when jobs were being assigned, but I guess I have to take what's left or I'd be cutting off my nose to spite my face."
The phrase has a Latin background, but no one knows exactly who came up with it. Supposedly, King Henry IV said it in the 17th century when he was going to destroy Paris in order to punish Parisians who didn't want him to be king.