Meaning
To cause problems or difficulties for oneself through one's own actions.
Cultural Background
In Iranian parenting, this phrase is a staple. It's often said with a specific 'warning' intonation. It reflects the cultural value of 'Dour-andishi' (thinking far ahead). The phrase is also used in Afghanistan with similar meaning, though sometimes 'bala' (calamity) is used instead of 'kār' to make it stronger: 'Bala dast-e khod dādi.' In the bazaar, 'kār dast-e kasi dādan' can also mean to trick someone or give them a faulty product, though 'kār dast-e KHOD dādan' remains about self-sabotage. While this specific idiom is more modern/colloquial, the theme of self-inflicted harm is central to many Sufi poems, where the 'nafs' (ego) is the one 'giving work' to the soul.
The 'Warning' Tone
When using this as a warning, slightly elongate the 'ā' in 'dādi' to sound more natural and concerned: 'Kār dast-e khodet nadī-hā!'
Don't be too harsh
This phrase can sound like you are blaming the person. Use it carefully with people you don't know well, as it implies they were foolish.
Meaning
To cause problems or difficulties for oneself through one's own actions.
The 'Warning' Tone
When using this as a warning, slightly elongate the 'ā' in 'dādi' to sound more natural and concerned: 'Kār dast-e khodet nadī-hā!'
Don't be too harsh
This phrase can sound like you are blaming the person. Use it carefully with people you don't know well, as it implies they were foolish.
Add 'Dasti-Dasti'
To sound like a native, add 'dasti-dasti' before the phrase to mean 'deliberately' or 'with your own two hands.'
Use in Ta'arof
You can use it to self-deprecate. If you spill tea on yourself, saying 'Kār dast-e khodam dādam' makes you sound humble and relatable.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'khod' and 'dādan'.
من با این دروغی که گفتم، حسابی کار دست ........ ........ .
The subject is 'Man' (I), so the reflexive must be 'khodam' and the verb must be 'dādam'.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'کار دست خود دادن'?
کدام موقعیت برای استفاده از این اصطلاح مناسب است؟
This situation shows a clear self-inflicted problem (getting sick) due to a poor decision (no umbrella).
Complete the dialogue.
احمد: 'چرا ماشینت خراب شده؟' رضا: 'خودم خواستم تعمیرش کنم ولی بدتر شد.' احمد: '........'
Reza tried to fix something and made it worse, which is the perfect context for this idiom.
Match the person to the correct phrase.
وصل کنید:
Matching subjects to their corresponding reflexive pronouns and verb endings.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesمن با این دروغی که گفتم، حسابی کار دست ........ ........ .
The subject is 'Man' (I), so the reflexive must be 'khodam' and the verb must be 'dādam'.
کدام موقعیت برای استفاده از این اصطلاح مناسب است؟
This situation shows a clear self-inflicted problem (getting sick) due to a poor decision (no umbrella).
احمد: 'چرا ماشینت خراب شده؟' رضا: 'خودم خواستم تعمیرش کنم ولی بدتر شد.' احمد: '........'
Reza tried to fix something and made it worse, which is the perfect context for this idiom.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Matching subjects to their corresponding reflexive pronouns and verb endings.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNo, it is strictly for negative consequences or troubles.
It depends on the subject. Use 'khodam' for 'I', 'khodet' for 'you', etc.
It's informal/colloquial, but not 'low-class' slang. It's used by all social classes in daily speech.
Yes, it's very common for accidents like cutting your finger or falling.
'Dardasar' is just the noun for 'trouble.' This idiom describes the *act* of causing it.
Use 'Kār dast-e mā mideh' (He gives work to our hand).
Only in informal writing, like text messages, novels with dialogue, or blog posts.
No, it's a secular, practical idiom.
It's grammatically okay but sounds less natural. Natives usually drop the 'be'.
There isn't a direct idiomatic opposite, but 'Gelim-e khod ra az āb birun keshidan' is close.
Yes: 'Kār dast-e khodshun dādan' (They messed up for themselves).
It can be 'sarku-zadan' (reproachful). Use it with empathy to avoid being rude.
Related Phrases
دردسر درست کردن
synonymTo create trouble
گل به خودی زدن
similarTo score an own goal
تیشه به ریشه خود زدن
builds onTo hit one's own roots with an axe
خودکرده را تدبیر نیست
similarThere is no remedy for what one has done to oneself
از ماست که بر ماست
similarIt is from us that it is upon us
گلیم خود را از آب بیرون کشیدن
contrastTo pull one's rug out of the water
