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From the same source as 'Spare the Rod; Spoil the Child'; i.e. The Bible 'Making a rod for your (originally 'ones') own back' - emphasis on the word 'own'; "You know...you're making a rod for your own back" or even "Thou maketh a rod for thine own back" ...describes an action which will have negative consequences for the person acting. Other equivalent phrases still in use today mean the same thing; 'That will backfire on you' 'That sword cuts both ways' 'You'll be sorry...' The image is that of a person making a 'rod', perhaps a willow withe, or some other kind of stick for disciplining another (see 'Rule Of Thumb' for another interesting old story which will give you further reason to be thankful you're living 'now' instead of 'then'), but, for some reason either unnoticed, ignored or neglected by the disciplinER, will ultimately turn out worst for the person trying to teach a lesson. More clearly, but, of course, less pithily, one could say; "That thing you're doing/making, that you 'think' might benefit its 'recipient', will ultimately be used against you, to cause you unpleasantness...not the outcome you had in mind, at all!!!

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17y ago

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