Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - own goal

(own goals) 1. In sport, if someone scores an own goal, they accidentally score a goal for the team they are playing against. (BRIT) N-COUNT: usu sing 2. If a course of action that someone takes harms their own interests, you can refer to it as an own goal. (BRIT) Because of the legislation I could not employ a woman. Women have made themselves unemployable. They have scored an own goal. N-COUNT: usu sing