foul one's own nest

From the proverb it's an ill bird that fouls its own nest.

foul one's own nest (third-person singular simple present fouls one's own nest, present participle fouling one's own nest, simple past and past participle fouled one's own nest)

1. To damage one's environment.
   • 1992, Roy Masters, Secrets of a Parallel Universe, →ISBN, page 142:

     Provide them with a mansion, and they will rip out the plumbing, write obscenities on the walls, and generally foul up their own nest.

   • 1998, Max Anders, What You Need to Know About Defending Your Faith in 12 Lessons, →ISBN, page 135:

     Whatever we do to nature and the environment we will eventually do to ourselves. If we continually foul our own nest, we will pay the price.

   • 2009, Richard Walker, The country in the city: the greening of the San Francisco, →ISBN, page 205:

     Large cities foul their own nest as they grow, putting the health of their citizens in jeopardy.

   • 2012, Daniel McCool, River Republic: The Fall and Rise of America's Rivers, →ISBN, page 296:

     Rather, it appears that we have a tendency to foul our own nest and destroy what we value the most.

2. To hurt one's own interests, especially to damage the reputation of one's self, family or group.
   • 2007, Roger Taylor, Farnor, →ISBN, page 200:

     He had concluded, 'Arbitrary violence against them now would be to foul your own nest; mar at the outset the future that is your destiny.

   • 2010, Peter Maguire, Law and War, →ISBN, page 135:

     In giving vent to these baseless slanders you have now fouled your own nest and sought to discredit the very judgment which you and your two distinguished colleagues have just rendered.”

   • 2015, Zachary Leader, The Life of Saul Bellow: To Fame and Fortune, 1915-1964, →ISBN:

     He fouled his own nest. So by now he realizes it was his own fault and he had it coming.