Tommy Tran
2021-09-02 07:09
Make a rod for (one's) own back British verb phrase
To do something in the present that is likely to cause you troubles or difficulties in the future
I really made a rod for my own back! The final exam is tomorrow and I haven't prepared for it yet.
You know, you'll be making a rod for your own back if you keep staying up late.
To punish someone or something harshly
Once something has been done, you can do nothing but face the consequences.
White lie
Act in a way that is likely to cause problems for you
The verb "make" should be conjugated according to its tense.
This expression is a variant of the phrase 'make a rod for yourself' dating from the 15th century. The referred rod in the expression was the rod or cane used as a means of punishment in Victorian schools. The first usage of the expression in its current form is found in the religious tract The Man of Sin, by William Hughes, in 1677:
"Oh how the good man smiles to see what a Rod we have made for our own Back!"
Do you see anything wrong?
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