hoist by one’s own petard

[madmusic]

(pi-TAHRD) To be caught in one’s own trap: “The swindler cheated himself out of most of his money, and his victims were satisfied to see him hoist by his own petard.” A “petard” was an explosive device used in medieval warfare. To be hoisted, or lifted, by a petard literally means to be blown up.

Or, as Jesus said, "He who lives by the sword dies by the sword."

Or as Nietzsche said, "When you look into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you."

And "Logic is like the sword - those who appeal to it, shall perish by it.
Samuel Butler

What does this have to do with anything? Well, just everything.

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. I have seen the enemy, and it is me.

(or us).

Or, more than likely, matcom.

We're certainly seeing a number of "family values" Republicans hoisting themselves by their own petards.

And every time, I let out a great big gut laugh. :rofl:

[acmejack]

2. A standard issue British Army Petard from the 1700's

snip>
A petard was a medieval term for a small bomb used to blow up gates and walls when breaching fortifications.

Petard mortar was also the name of the demolition weapon fitted to the Churchill AVRE tank. It was mortar of 290 mm bore known to its crews as the "flying dustbin" from the projectile: an unaerodynamic 20 kg charge sufficient to demolish many bunkers and earthworks and even disable a Tiger tank which could be fired up to 100 m.

In Maltese English, home-made fireworks—a popular and widespread albeit highly dangerous hobby in Malta—are called petards (the word in Maltese, murtal, is obviously related to "mortar"). In Malta, petards are detonated by the dozen during feasts dedicated to local patron saints. Maltese petards are made by common people without formal education in chemistry, as an exercise in traditional handiwork. Consequently, security is frequently neglected and fatal accidents are common.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petard