blow up in one's face

Meanings:

• 1.

  generalinformalidiomatic
  • To have a plan, action, or campaign produce the opposite of the intended effect, resulting in embarrassment, failure, or harm for the initiator.
  • To backfire disastrously on the person responsible.

• 2.

  generalneutralliteral
  • To explode or detonate in front of someone, causing physical injury or damage to that person.