看美剧学英语高频短语：Shoot oneself in the foot
Shoot oneself in the foot：to unintentionally cause problems for oneself through a foolish action, mistake, or poor judgment. It emphasizes self-sabotage, where one’s own words or actions lead to failure or complications that could have been avoided. （指因愚蠢的行为、失误或判断错误而为自己带来麻烦，强调”自我破坏”——自己的言行导致本可避免的失败或困境。）
以下是英语高频短语“Shoot oneself in the foot”在美剧语料库中的相关例句：
场景一：选自美剧《猫鼠游戏》S05E03 05:51
Curtis Hagen: So you find me amusing? 所以你觉得我很可笑？
Neal Caffrey: Well, you realize you’ve shot yourself in the foot, right? 嗯，你意识到你这是搬起石头砸自己的脚了吧？
——>> I’m on an anklet, which means the FBI knows I’ve been here. 我戴着电子脚铐，这意味着联邦调查局知道我来过这里。
——>> So if I boost this painting, they’ll know it was me. 所以如果我偷了这幅画，他们会知道是我干的。
——>> Then I’ll be back in jail and no good to you. 那样我就会回到监狱里，对你也就没任何用处了。
Curtis Hagen: Well, I suppose you’re going to have 嗯，我想那你就必须
——>> to be extra clever then, aren’t you? 做得格外聪明才行，不是吗？
场景二：选自美剧《傲骨贤妻》S02E19 12:37
Eli Gold: Wendy Scott-Carr is an Illinois resident. 温蒂·斯科特-卡尔是伊利诺伊州居民。
——>> This is her summer home in Forest Lake, 这是她在福雷斯特湖的夏日住宅，
——>> not in Michigan as the Democratic Committee suggests. 并不像民主党委员会所说的在密歇根州。
——>> And why isn’t Wendy’s team showing me that? 那为什么温蒂的团队不向我说明这点？
Blake Calamar: ‘Cause they’re three points down, and they want the DCC 因为他们落后三个百分点，他们希望民主党委员会
——>> to continue to shoot themselves in the foot. 继续搬起石头砸自己的脚。
Eli Gold: They actually seem to be shooting you in the foot. 他们看起来更像是在砸你的脚。
——>> All the more reason to print it. 那就更有理由刊登这消息了。
Blake Calamar: I got a background quote that Florrick has bimbo issues. 我得到一则背景评论，说弗洛里克有桃色丑闻。
Eli Gold: Had bimbo issues. 是“曾经有过”桃色丑闻。
Blake Calamar: No, I-I think I got the tense right. 不，我-我觉得我的时态没用错。
这段对话是《傲骨贤妻》中政治线剧情的一个缩影，完美展现了竞选活动中“刀光剑影”的幕后博弈。
核心矛盾：彼得·弗洛里克（Peter Florrick）团队与温蒂·斯科特-卡尔（Wendy Scott-Carr）团队在竞选州检察官职位上的激烈斗争。
人物角色：
伊莱·戈登：彼得·弗洛里克的竞选经理，一位精明、狡猾、为达目的不择手段的政治操盘手。
布莱克·卡拉马：伊莱手下的调查员，负责搜集对手的黑料和情报。
前情提要：温蒂·斯科特-卡尔的阵营（很可能是通过民主党委员会DCC）正在攻击彼得·弗洛里克的某个资格问题。作为反击，伊莱的团队发现了温蒂的一个潜在弱点：她声称自己的主要住所在密歇根州，但伊莱有证据表明她的夏宅（并暗示是主要住所）在伊利诺伊州——这关系到选举资格和选民信任，是一个严重的政治问题。
- 伊莱的困惑与布莱克的点破
伊莱问：“为什么温蒂的团队不主动澄清这一点？” 这暴露了他的第一层思考——他认为对方在犯一个低级错误。
布莱克的回答揭示了更深层的政治计算：“因为他们落后，所以他们希望我们（民主党委员会）继续犯错（shoot themselves in the foot）。” 这意味着温蒂团队是故意示弱，引诱彼得阵营去大肆攻击这个住址问题，而他们可能已经设好了圈套（例如，他们有更确凿的证据证明自己没错），等待彼得团队攻击落空后反而引火烧身。
场景三：选自美剧《纸牌屋》S02E12 32:06
Remy Danton: They’re toying with you, Raymond. 他们在耍你，雷蒙德。
Raymond Tusk: No doubt. But so are you, Remy. 毫无疑问。但你也是，雷米。
Remy Danton: I wanted to lead Frank on, give him a false sense of security. 我是想吊着弗兰克，给他一种错误的安全感。
Lead someone on：to deceptively encourage someone’s romantic interest, hopes, or expectations, usually for personal gain or amusement, without any intention of fulfilling them. （（给某人错觉/吊着某人） 指欺骗性地鼓励某人的浪漫兴趣、希望或期望（通常为了个人利益或乐趣），但根本无意实现这些承诺。它暗示通过模糊的信号、虚假的承诺或不坦诚表达真实感受的方式，使对方停留在虚幻的希望中。）
Daily Conversation:
Dating: “He kept texting her and taking her out for drinks, but he was just leading her on; he never actually wanted a serious relationship.”
（他一直给她发信息、请她喝酒，但他只是在吊着她；他根本没想过要认真发展关系。）Friendship: “I thought she liked me as more than a friend, but it turns out I misread the signals, and she didn’t mean to lead me on.”
（我以为她对我有好感，但后来发现是我误会了，她并非有意给我错觉。）Business Context:
Negotiations: “The client led us on for months with promises of a huge contract, only to sign with our competitor at the last minute.”
（这个客户用一份大合同的承诺吊了我们好几个月，结果最后时刻却和我们的竞争对手签了约。）Career Advancement: “The manager was accused of leading his employees on by hinting at promotions he knew would never be approved.”
（这位经理被指责给员工画大饼，暗示一些他明知根本不会获批的升职机会。）
Raymond Tusk: If you’re gonna lie, lie better than that. 要撒谎就撒得像样点。
——>> They want to tear us apart. 他们想分裂我们。
——>> I don’t blame you for wanting to keep your options open. 你想给自己留后路，我不怪你。
——>> But clearly you have bought the wrong insurance policy. 但你显然买错了保险。
——>> Don’t shoot yourself in the foot like this. 别这样搬起石头砸自己的脚。
Remy Danton: Your foot. And you’re holding the gun. 是砸你的脚。而且枪就握在你自己手里。
——>> Now go someplace else to bleed. 要流血去别处流。
Raymond Tusk: You want to talk about blood? 你想谈流血？
——>> How much have you spilt in this war with Frank? 你和弗兰克的这场战争里，你流了多少血？
Remy Danton: All I’ve tried to do is keep the peace. 我所做的一切只是试图维持和平。
Raymond Tusk: You could’ve let him have the upper hand. 你本可以让他占上风的。
——>> What would that have really cost you, other than your pride? 那除了你的自尊，到底能让你损失什么？
——>> Such a shame. 真是可惜。
——>> You have just made 42 billion enemies, Remy. 你刚刚树了420亿个敌人，雷米。
Remy Danton: And some change. 还得再加点零头。
——>> 39 billion, Raymond. Your market cap is shrinking. 是390亿，雷蒙德。你的市值在缩水。
场景四：选自美剧《金装律师》S04E01 12:13
Donna: Donna, I got Paul Porter’s annual restructuring proposal. 唐娜，我收到了保罗·波特的年度重组提案。
——>> Can you file it under “I don’t give a shit”? 你能把它归到”我根本不在乎”那一类里吗？
——>> What about Mike? You want me to have Rachel 迈克那边呢？需要我让瑞秋
——>> prepare a dog and pony show for him? 为他准备一场花里胡哨的演示会吗？（bells and whistles）
A “dog and pony show” is a disapproving or cynical term for an elaborate presentation, demonstration, or event that is designed to impress, persuade, or divert attention, but is often seen as insubstantial, overly rehearsed, or full of flashy gimmicks with little real substance. （（表面排场/作秀） 是一个带有贬义或讽刺意味的术语，指为了给人留下深刻印象、说服他人或转移注意力而精心设计的演示或活动，但通常被认为华而不实、缺乏真正实质内容。它暗示这更像是一场侧重于形式和推销技巧的表演，而非提供真正的价值或内容。）
Business Context:
Corporate Presentation: “The CEO’s town hall meeting was just a dog and pony show; they showed fancy charts but avoided answering any tough questions about layoffs.”
（首席执行官的市政厅会议不过是一场精心策划的表演；他们展示了一些花哨的图表，但回避了所有关于裁员的尖锐问题。）Sales Pitch: “We need to prepare a full dog and pony show for the potential investors next week, complete with a product demo and catered lunch.”
（我们需要为下周的潜在投资者准备一场完整的路演秀，包括产品演示和招待午餐。）Daily Conversation:
Social Interaction: “Bringing me to this fancy restaurant feels like a dog and pony show. Just tell me what you really want.”
（带我来这么高档的餐厅感觉像是一场刻意的表演。你到底想干什么就直说吧。）Product Demo: “The company put on a real dog and pony show for the new smartphone, with laser lights and dancers, but the phone itself didn’t have any groundbreaking features.”
（该公司为这款新手机举办了一场极其花哨的推介会，又是激光灯又是舞者，但手机本身并没有什么突破性的功能。）
Harvey: – That won’t be necessary. – 没那个必要。
Donna: – Why not? – 为什么不用？
——>> Harvey, I need to talk to you right now 哈维，我需要马上跟你谈点事，
——>> about something very important. 非常重要的事。
Rachel: Harvey, why won’t it be necessary? 哈维，为什么没必要？
Harvey: ‘Cause you don’t beg the girl to go out with you. 因为你不能求着女孩跟你约会。
——>> You wait. 你得等。
——>> She’ll call. That’s not even– 她会打来的。这甚至都–
Rachel: Excuse me. Hold on a second. Um, what if they don’t call? 打扰一下，等等。嗯，那要是他们不打来呢？
Harvey: They always call. 他们总会打来的。
Rachel: Well, what about people who aren’t you? 嗯，那要不是你这样的人呢？
Harvey: – You mean you? – 你是说你自己？
Rachel: – Yeah, of course I do. – 对，当然是我。
Harvey: If they don’t call, then they don’t call. 如果他们不打来，那就算了。
——>> But once they smell your desperation, 但一旦他们嗅到你的迫切，
1. 通感修辞解析：
将无形的心理状态（绝望）转化为可被嗅觉感知的实体气味
形成「抽象情感→具象感官」的跨维度映射
类似表达：taste victory（品尝胜利）, see the tension（看见紧张）
——>> they won’t respect you, 他们就不会尊重你，
——>> and you’ll never get what you want anyway. 反正你也永远得不到你想要的。
——>> I’m sorry, did you want to talk to me about something? 抱歉，你刚是不是有事要跟我说？
Donna: It can wait. 可以等等。
Harvey: Come to think of it, 说起来，
A conversational phrase used to introduce a sudden realization, afterthought, or a point that has just occurred to the speaker. （说起来/想想看——用于引出说话者突然的领悟、补充想法或刚刚记起的事情。它表示说话者重新思考或想起了与讨论相关的内容，常引发话题的轻微转向。）
——>> tell Rachel when she’s back from school 等瑞秋从学校回来告诉她，
——>> she can have the rest of the day off. 她今天剩下的时间可以放假了。
Donna: Harvey. 哈维。
——>> You do that, you might as well send Mike a telegram that says, 你这么做，还不如直接给迈克发封电报，写上：
——>> “I’m not putting any thought into your idea.” “我根本懒得考虑你的想法。”
Harvey: Yeah, might as well. 是啊，还不如这样。
Donna: Okay, are you sure that’s how you want to play this? 好吧，你确定要这么处理吗？
Harvey: Didn’t I just answer that? 我刚刚没回答吗？
Donna: You did, but this isn’t about whether or not Mike calls back. 你回答了，但这事关键不在于迈克会不会回电话。
——>> This is about you not letting Mike call the shots. 关键在于你不想让迈克掌握主动权。
Harvey: I let him call the shots, all he’s gonna do 我要是让他掌权，他只会
——>> is shoot himself in the foot. Maybe. 搬起石头砸自己的脚。也许吧。
Donna: But if this was anybody other than Mike, 但如果换作是迈克以外的任何人，
——>> you wouldn’t be acting like this. 你都不会是这种态度。
Harvey: Bullshit. I don’t let Tony Gianopolous push me around. 胡说。我就不让托尼·贾纳普洛斯摆布我。
——>> You think I’m gonna let Mike Ross? 你觉得我会让迈克·罗斯摆布？
Donna: No, of course you don’t let Tony push you around, 不，你当然不让托尼摆布你，
——>> but I’ve never seen you mock one of his ideas. 但我从没见过你嘲笑过他的任何一个主意。
Harvey: Yeah, because his ideas aren’t ridiculous. 是啊，因为他的主意不荒唐。
Donna: This is Mike’s first big idea. 这是迈克的第一个大想法。
Harvey: And I just told you, his first big idea sucks. 而我也告诉你了，他的第一个大想法烂透了。
Donna: And if you use Rachel to deliver that message, 而如果你利用瑞秋来传递这个信息，
——>> this is gonna end badly. 结局会很难看。
Harvey: Okay, thanks, mom, but I think 好了，谢谢老妈子的关心，但我觉得
——>> I’m gonna keep playing ball in the house. 我还是要继续在屋里打球（意指我行我素）。
Figurative Meaning (Business/Daily Context):
Business Risk: “Trying to hide those expenses from the auditors is like playing ball in the house—sooner or later, something will get broken, and you’ll be in huge trouble.”
（试图向审计隐瞒那些费用就像在屋里玩球——迟早会出事，你会有大麻烦的。）Social Etiquette: “Bringing up such a controversial topic at the family dinner is playing ball in the house. Let’s not ruin a peaceful evening.”
（在家宴上提起这么有争议的话题简直是在危险边缘试探。我们还是别破坏这个平静的夜晚了。）
Donna: Okay, act like a child who doesn’t want to be told 好吧，你就像个不想被管教的孩子一样耍赖吧，
——>> what to do, but Mike’s a client, 但迈克是客户，
——>> and you need to start treating him like one. 而你得开始像对待客户那样对待他了。
Harvey: Donna, the next time I need help figuring out 唐娜，下次我需要人指点
——>> how to treat a client, I’ll let you know. 该如何对待客户时，我会告诉你的。
Donna: Okay, great. 好的，很好。
