score on oneself
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To accidentally do something that hurts you instead of the other person, like scoring a goal for the other team.
Literal meaning: To score a point against oneself — transparent in sports context.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
To unintentionally cause harm or disadvantage to oneself through one's own actions or words.
"By leaking that information, the politician ended up scoring on himself instead of damaging his rival."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Extremely rare as a phrasal verb. Derived from the sports concept of an 'own goal'. Much more commonly expressed as 'score an own goal' (British English) or 'shoot oneself in the foot'. Unlikely to be encountered except in very informal speech.
Commonly used with
accidentally inadvertently own goal argument debate
Forms
Base
score on oneself
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scores on oneself
he/she/it
Past simple
scored on oneself
yesterday
Past participle
scored on oneself
have + pp
-ing form
scoring on oneself
continuous
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