overshoot the mark. play tricks with, play Puck, mismanage, misconduct, misdirect, misapply, missend. stultify oneself, make a fool of oneself, commit oneself
act foolishly
play the fool
put oneself out of court
lose control, lose control of oneself, lose one's head, lose one's cunning. begin at the wrong end
strain at a gnat and swallow a camel etc.(caprice)Caprice
put the cart before the horse
lock the stable door when the horse is stolen etc.(too late)Untimeliness. not know what one is about, not know one's own interest, not know on which side one's bread is buttered
stand in one's own light, quarrel with one's bread and butter, throw a stone in one's own garden, kill the goose which lays the golden eggs, pay dear for one's whistle, cut one's own throat, bum one's fingers
knock one's head against a stone wall, beat one's head against a stone wall
fall into a trap, catch a Tartar, bring the house about one's ears
have too many eggs in one basket (imprudent)Rashness, have too many irons in the fire. mistake etc.Error
take the shadow for the substance etc.(credulity)Credulity
bark up the wrong tree
be in the wrong box, aim at a pigeon and kill a crow
take the wrong pig by the tail, get the wrong pig by the tail, get the wrong sow by the ear, get the dirty end of the stick
put the saddle on the wrong horse, put a square peg into a round hole, put new wine into old bottles. cut blocks with a razor
hold a farthing candle to the sun etc.(useless)Inutility
fight with a shadow, grasp at a shadow
catch at straws, lean on a broken reed, reckon without one's host, pursue a wild goose chase