like turkeys voting for Christmas UK /laɪk ˌtɜːkiz ˈvəʊtɪŋ fə ˈkɹɪsməs/US /laɪk ˌtɝkiz ˈvoʊtɪŋ fɚ ˈkɹɪsməs/ phrase1 •(UK, humorous) Self-defeating; serving to bring about a situation detrimental to the performer of the action.Many of the responses to proposals, particularly regarding deregulation, were unsupported: it would have been like turkeys voting for Christmas in some respects. — 1998
