foul one's own nest

present singular third person fouls one's own nest · participle present fouling one's own nest · participle past fouled one's own nest · past fouled one's own nest

1. To damage one's environment.

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

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

   3 more examples

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

   1992, Roy Masters, Secrets of a Parallel Universe, →ISBN, page 142

   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.

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

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

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

2. To hurt one's own interests, especially to damage the reputation of one's self, family or group.

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

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

   2 more examples

   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.

   2007, Roger Taylor, Farnor, →ISBN, page 200

   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.”

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

   Synonyms: shoot oneself in the foot