The phrase “cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face” warns against acting hastily and causing long-term or unforeseen consequences. Its origin is uncertain, but it may have come from a story about nuns in the 9th century or from a Latin phrase used in the 12th century. The phrase describes an action that may bring short-term satisfaction but has long-term costs.
The phrase “cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face” means that a person is behaving in a way that may be immediately gratifying but is ultimately destructive or has negative consequences. This phrase is typically used to warn someone against acting hastily or to stop them from doing something that could have long-term or unforeseen costs. It is similar to a number of other phrases that have been used in different languages and historical periods. Its origin is somewhat difficult to ascertain, although there are at least two different stories.
One of the more common uses of the phrase is as a warning, usually directed at someone in the form of “Doing that would be like cutting off your nose to spite your face.” While the wording of the sentence may be a bit strict, the meaning can be determined simply by looking at the sentence itself. A person who cuts off his nose not only takes revenge on her face, but causes pain and suffering to her body as a whole.
This literal examination of the phrase reveals its meaning quite simply. The phrase describes an action that may lead to initial or short-term satisfaction, but which has long-term or unavoidable consequences that should be considered. An example might include someone who is angry with their spouse and decides to burn down their home to destroy that other person’s possessions. Since the house belongs to both, the person would also harm their possessions.
The origins of the phrase “cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face” are somewhat uncertain and two different stories explain its genesis. One story, which seems quite apocryphal, claims that a group of nuns, led by St. Ebba, were in danger of being attacked by rampaging Vikings in the 9th century. To preserve their chastity, legend has it that Saint Ebba cut off her nose to become unattractive to men, and she instructed the other nuns of the monastery to do so as well. This story indicates that the self-mutilation was successful and that the Vikings did not rape the nuns, but that the invaders burned down the monastery as an expression of their disgust.
A somewhat more likely source for the phrase holds that it is of Latin origin and made its way into French usage in the 12th century. It may have been told in the 12th century to King Henry IV that he was about to destroy Paris as a way of punishing Parisians who disapproved of his rule at the time. In response to this, one of the king’s courtiers is said to have told him that to do so would be like “cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face,” and the king agreed.
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