make a stick for one's own back

verb

To make a decision that will have personally adverse consequences.

“Allowing a known trouble-maker to join the team is making a stick for your own back.”

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Meanings

verbmake a stick for one's own back (third-person singular simple present makes a stick for one's own back, present participle making a stick for one's own back, simple past and past participle made a stick for one's own back)

present singular third person makes a stick for one's own back · participle present making a stick for one's own back · participle past made a stick for one's own back · past made a stick for one's own back

  1. idiomaticinformalTo make a decision that will have personally adverse consequences.

    Allowing a known trouble-maker to join the team is making a stick for your own back.

Cite this entry
APA

make a stick for one's own back. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20a%20stick%20for%20one's%20own%20back

MLA

“make a stick for one's own back.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20a%20stick%20for%20one's%20own%20back. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “make a stick for one's own back,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20a%20stick%20for%20one's%20own%20back.

Source: make a stick for one's own back on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.