Now that you know the origin of the expression, you can probably guess its meaning. So what do you think the idiom "be hoist with one's own petard" means?

Chinese Idiom: Missing One Basket of Soil Spoils the Entire Effort to Build a Nine-Ren Mountain...

The Chinese idiom, “A white cloud at one moment may look like a grey dog in the next moment,” provides a picture of how things in life can indeed change in a most unpredictable manner!

William Congreve, in The mourning bride, 1697: ... As you'll answer it, take heed; This Slave commit no Violence upon; Himself. I've been deceiv'd. The Publick Safety; ... and none, No not the Princes self,

This idiom can mean living material of which people are made of, or it can refer to someone's family.

Definition of idiom from Webster's New World College Dictionary. Meaning of idiom. Pronunciation of idiom. Definition of the word idiom. Origin of the word idiom. ... idiom of the day 860 -264 minutes ago

To understand at all the process through which Milton shaped up his poetic idiom, one needs to inquire into three factors acting both as incentive and restraint, all of these being related to...

provided by Pride UnLimited ... Idioms & Axioms currently used in America; (Meanings and Origins) ... [P] for Polite, acceptable in the most decrete and well educated circles and public speaking.

This idiom has two possible origins. One is from when people banished their bad dogs and sent them to their dog houses. Another possible origin is from the popular story of Peter Pan.