Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Arabic term or phrase:
كيف نقول أو نكتب : \" انقلب السحر على الساحر\" باللغة الإنكليزية
English translation:
The plan backfired
Arabic term
United Kingdom
كيف نقول أو نكتب : " انقلب السحر على الساحر" باللغة الإنكليزية
Aug 30, 2011 14:37: TargamaT team changed "Language pair" from "English to Arabic" to "Arabic to English"
Proposed translations
Accurate service & fast delivery
Native in: Arabic 
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English
The plan backfired
الخطة أعطت عكس المردود
| agree |
Hassan Lotfy
: 'something' backfired, it backfired ..etc
3 hrs
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شكراً الأستاذ حسن - عيد مبارك وكل عام والجميع بخير
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| agree |
Nadia Ayoub
: in this context.
3 hrs
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شكراً الأستاذ نادية- عيد مبارك وكل عام والجميع بخير
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| agree |
Saleh Ayyub
3 hrs
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شكراً الأستاذ صالح - عيد مبارك وكل عام والجميع بخير
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| agree |
Mohsin Alabdali
6 hrs
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شكراً الأستاذ محسن - عيد مبارك وكل عام والجميع بخير
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France
Arabic professional content & beyond...
Native in: Arabic (Variant: Standard-Arabian (MSA)) 
, French (Variant: Standard-France)
Works in: English to Arabic, French to Arabic, German to Arabic, and 6 more.
He got a taste of his own medicine
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Note added at 23 mins (2011-08-30 14:31:41 GMT)
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مثال
http://arab.jinbo.net/aggregator/pages/pages/contributors/Tr...
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Note added at 24 mins (2011-08-30 14:32:37 GMT)
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مثال آخر
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1949504
Morocco
A good translation shortens distances!
Native in: Arabic , French
Works in: English to Arabic, French to Arabic, Italian to Arabic, and 3 more.
be hoist by his own petard
وقع في شر أعماله
/////
Saudi Arabia
Quality adept, Time Bound, Client Mind
Native in: Arabic
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, French to Arabic, and 21 more.
be hoist with one's own petard/what goes around comes around/his evel is being used against him
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1761988
http://www.translatorscafe.com/term/79278/19/377/انقلب_السحر...
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Note added at 1 hr (2011-08-30 15:45:32 GMT)
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However the proverb "his magic has turned against him" is somewhat literal
United Arab Emirates
It's not just a job...
Native in: Arabic (Variant: Egyptian)
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English
The tables were turned on (someone)...
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Note added at 23 hrs (2011-08-31 13:21:48 GMT)
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You fell into your own trap
Discussion
The hunter becomes the hunted.
;-)
similarities 00 : stay together
But does it complete as "Likes repel" or "similarities repel each other" ??
Of course I won't use "Opposites marry" !! I am trying to prove my thoery of opposites attraction. :-)
opposite attracts but similar repel each other... good luck :-))
وقعت في شر أعمالي (أوقعت نفسي في ورطة)-3
إذن، الاختيار الأول هو الأقرب، إلا إذا كانت لك غاية في نفس يعقوب (كي لا أقول "كيد") عندما قلت له نصف التعبير
:-)
" opposites attract"
فتلقيت الجواب بأن :
" It is funny you should mention this "Opposites attract" because it completes as "Opposite attracts, but similarities stay together"
فباستعمالي لللنصف الأول من هذا الاقتباس, انقلب سحري عليّْ
حتى الآن أفضّل استعمال :
1- it backfired
2- or say " The magic turned against the magician"
3- or " I am hoist(ed ?) by my own petard"
و لكنني لم أحبذها فما رأيكم
witty
و لكن ما قلته تبين أنه لا يستخدم في السياق الذي كنت فيه. ببساطة