How to Pronounce "cut your nose off to spite your face"
expression
Definition
If you cut your nose off to spite your face, you do something meant to hurt someone else but actually end up harming yourself more. It's used for situations where anger or pride leads someone to make decisions that cause themselves trouble.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈkət/ /ˈjɔɹ/, /ˈjʊɹ/ /ˈnoʊz/ /ˈɔf/ /ˈtu/, /tə/, /tɪ/ /ˈspaɪt/ /ˈjɔɹ/, /ˈjʊɹ/ /ˈfeɪs
British English
kˈʌt/ /jˈɔː/ /nˈəʊz/ /ˈɒf/ /tˈuː/ /spˈaɪt/ /jˈɔː/ /fˈeɪs
Simplified Pronunciation
US
KUT yor, yoor, NOHZ AWF too, tuh, ti SPYTE yor, yoor FAYS
UK
kut YAW nohz OFF too SPYTE YAW FAYS
Listen in Context
If you refuse help just because you're angry, you might cut your nose off to spite your face.
He cut his nose off to spite his face by quitting his job before finding a new one.
Don’t cut your nose off to spite your face just because you’re upset.
She stopped talking to her friends after an argument, but it just felt like she was cutting her nose off to spite her face.