get into [be in] hot water; ask [look] for trouble; burn (one's) fingers; do sth. which will only cause trouble to oneself; make a rod for one's own back [for oneself]; prepare a rod for one's own back; ride for fall; seek out hardships; walk oneself into trouble
自讨没趣 bring contempt upon oneself; ask for a snub; ask for rebuff; incur odium; invite public contempt; invite ridicule [dislike; rebuff]; make oneself unwelcome
自叹不如 sigh at the idea of one's comparative unworthiness; acknowledge the superiority of; admit with regret that one is not as good; concede that the other is better qualified; consider oneself inferior to another; feel one is not another's equal; throw [toss] in the towel