rod for one's back

• rod for one's own back
• rod for one's own breech

(a) rod for one's back

1. (idiomatic) The means of one's own punishment or downfall.
   • 1866, Henry Kingsley, "Silcote of Silcotes", MacMillan's Magazine, Vol. 14, Sept., p. 324:

     "Silcote, you are making a rod for your back in your treatment of that child. She'll live to break your heart for you."

   • 1997 Oct. 4, John Williams, "Blair Maps Out Party's Long March," The Mirror (UK):

     Nobody is more wary of Tony Blair's record ratings and the illusion of the Prime Minister's omnipotence than Tony Blair himself. "He thinks his approval ratings are a rod for his back," says one adviser.

   • 2009 Feb. 2, Dita De Boni, "Keeping Mum: Sparing the Rod?," New Zealand Herald:

     I can't get over how you parents let your children run riot over you. There must be some discipline in this surely, otherwise you will make a rod for your back when they get older.

• Often preceded by the verb make or create.

• hoist by one's own petard