Meanings
- Someone that plans harm or misfortune for others may also inadvertently be the recipient of that same misfortune.
Synonyms: the biter bitten
Synonyms & antonyms
proverbSomeone that plans harm or misfortune for others may also inadvertently be the recipient of that same misfortune.
Translations
Arabic مَنْ حَفَرَ حُفْرَةً لِأَخِيهِ وَقَعَ فِيهَا
- مَنْ حَفَرَ حُفْرَةً لِأَخِيهِ وَقَعَ فِيهَا (man ḥafara ḥufratan liʔaḵīhi waqaʕa fīhā)he who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
Czech kdo jinému jámu kopá, sám do ní padá
- kdo jinému jámu kopá, sám do ní padáhe who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
Danish den, der graver en grav for andre, falder selv i den, den, der graver en grav for andre, falder tit selv i den
- den, der graver en grav for andre, falder selv i denhe who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
- den, der graver en grav for andre, falder tit selv i denhe who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
Finnish joka toiselle kuoppaa kaivaa, hän itse siihen lankeaa
- joka toiselle kuoppaa kaivaa, hän itse siihen lankeaahe who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
German wer andern eine Grube gräbt, fällt selbst hinein
- wer andern eine Grube gräbt, fällt selbst hineinhe who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
Greek όποιος σκάβει το λάκκο του αλλουνού, πέφτει ο ίδιος μέσα
- όποιος σκάβει το λάκκο του αλλουνού, πέφτει ο ίδιος μέσα (ópoios skávei to lákko tou allounoú, péftei o ídios mésa)he who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
Hungarian aki másnak vermet ás, maga esik bele
- aki másnak vermet ás, maga esik belehe who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
Italian chi scava la fossa agli altri, vi cade dentro egli stesso
- chi scava la fossa agli altri, vi cade dentro egli stessohe who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
Latin incidit in foveam qui primus fecerat illam
- incidit in foveam qui primus fecerat illamhe who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
Persian چاه مکن بهر کسی اول خودت بعدا کسی
- چاه مکن بهر کسی اول خودت بعدا کسی (čâh makan bahr-e kasi avval xodat ba'dan kasi)he who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
Polish kto pod kim dołki kopie, sam w nie wpada
- kto pod kim dołki kopie, sam w nie wpadahe who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
Russian не рой друго́му яму - сам в неё попадёшь
- не рой друго́му яму - сам в неё попадёшь (ne roj drugómu jamu - sam v nejó popadjóšʹ)he who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
Swedish den som gräver en grop åt andra, faller ofta själv däri, den som gräver en grop åt andra faller ofta själv däri
- den som gräver en grop åt andra, faller ofta själv därihe who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
- den som gräver en grop åt andra faller ofta själv därihe who digs a pit for others, falls in himself
Cite this entry
he who digs a pit for others falls in himself. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/he%20who%20digs%20a%20pit%20for%20others%20falls%20in%20himself
“he who digs a pit for others falls in himself.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/he%20who%20digs%20a%20pit%20for%20others%20falls%20in%20himself. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “he who digs a pit for others falls in himself,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/he%20who%20digs%20a%20pit%20for%20others%20falls%20in%20himself.
Source: he who digs a pit for others falls in himself on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.