E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Beaten with his own Staff.
Confuted by one’s own words. An argumentum ad hominem.
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“Can High Church bigotry go farther than this? And how well have I since been beaten with mine own staff.”—J. Wesley. (He refers to
his excluding Bolzius from “the Lord’s table,” because he had not been canonically baptized.)
