What Does "Cut Off Your Nose to Spite Your Face" Mean?

Co-authored by Tristen Bonacci, MEd and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: May 13, 2025

The English language is full of unique expressions like "cut off your nose to spite your face" but what does that phrase mean? Chances are you were a little confused when you heard it used the first time, but don't worry! We'll help you figure out the meaning of the phrase and give you plenty of examples of how to use it.

Section 1 of 3:

What does “cut off your nose to spite your face" mean?

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"Cut off your nose to spite your face" means doing something that puts you at a disadvantage. Usually, when people use the phrase, they give it as a warning—don't cut off your nose to spite your face. It means resist the urge to act in anger or haste before thinking of the consequences. You might see it in a conversation like this:^{[1]
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- Person 1: “Are you going to give the presentation even though you don't have all the data results back?”
  Person 2: “I'll be fine! I'll just wing it. Hopefully, the data ends up supporting what I say.”
- Person 1: “You're better off waiting until you have all the information. You don't want to cut off your nose to spite your face.”

Section 2 of 3:

How do I use "cut off your nose to spite your face"?

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1
Warn someone not to act in anger. You could tell them "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face" as a reminder that they'll only make their problems worse. It's also a gentle reminder for them to keep their best interests in mind. You might use the phrase when:
- You're trying to calm down someone who's upset and trying to get even.
- You're telling someone to pause and think before acting.
- You're encouraging the person to focus on the bigger picture and their overall happiness.
2
Say "cut off your nose to spite your face" to highlight a mistake or lack of choice. Sometimes, you'll hear someone use the phrase if they feel like they don't have any options and doing nothing would have consequences. You might hear it like this:
- "I may have cut off my nose to spite my face, but it's out of my hands now. I'll just have to live with the results."^{[2]
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- "I wasn't here when jobs were being assigned, but I guess I have to take what's left or I'd be cutting off my nose to spite my face."

Section 3 of 3:

Where did "cut off your nose to spite your face" come from?

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The earliest records come from France in the 12th century. The phrase has a Latin background, but no one knows exactly who came up with it. Supposedly, King Henry IV said it in the 17th century when he was going to destroy Paris in order to punish Parisians who didn't want him to be king.^{[3]
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- There's also a gruesome story from the 9th century in which nuns cut off their noses to prevent violence from invading Vikings. Some argue that this is where the idiom came from, but there isn't historical evidence to support this tale.