Meaning & Definition
noun
the act of reversing or canceling something; a process by which something is undone or made ineffective.
His constant procrastination was his undoing in the end.
a frail or weak point; a flaw that leads to failure.
Her kindness, while admirable, proved to be her undoing in the competitive corporate world.
the state of being undone; collapse or ruin.
The scandal was the undoing of his once-promising political career.
Etymology
From the verb 'undo', combined with the suffix '-ing'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
the undoing of:
the cause of someone's failure or downfall
undoing one's mistakes:
reversing errors or correcting faults
the undoing of a plan:
the failure or collapse of a plan
Slang Meanings
to mess up something badly
He really did a number on that project; it's his undoing.
to bring about someone's failure
Her gossiping was her undoing in the office.