1590s, "small bomb used to blow in doors and breach walls," from French pétard (late 16c.), from Middle French péter "break wind," from Old French pet "a fart," from Latin peditum, noun use of neuter past participle of pedere "to break wind," from PIE root *pezd- "to fart" (see feisty). Surviving in phrase hoist with one's own petard (or some variant) "blown up with one's own bomb," which is ultimately from Shakespeare (1605):
For tis the sport to haue the enginer Hoist with his owne petar ("Hamlet" III.iv.207).
See hoist.
实用例句
1. It was indeed a clever plan to entrap his opponent, but in the end he was hoist by his own petard.
设圈套陷害他的对手固然是个妙计, 可是到头来却是作法自毙.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. The police hoisted the criminal with his own petard.
警察使罪犯搬起石头砸自己的脚.
来自互联网
3. Critics say he is in danger of being hoist with his own petard.
