he who digs a pit for others falls in himself
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Someone that plans harm or misfortune for others may also inadvertently be the recipient of that same misfortune.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “he who digs a pit for others falls in himself” mean?
Someone that plans harm or misfortune for others may also inadvertently be the recipient of that same misfortune.
Is “he who digs a pit for others falls in himself” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.