stir a fire only to burnoneself—court disaster; ask for trouble; bring ahornet’s nest about one’s ears; play with fire ❍ 但东西却无人敢买，害怕～。(姚雪垠《李自成》Ⅱ—714) Butnobody dared to buy anything in case they gotinvolved in the affair. ❍ 李桂荣估量白家是干属，怕把事情闹大了，区上县里派人来调查，～，反倒不美。(周立波《暴风骤雨》282) …but Li Guirong cautioned himagainst making an enemy of a government worker’swife. It would not do to offend her and attract theattention of the district authorities. It woul not do toplay with fire.
惹火烧身re huo shao shen
stir up a fire only to burn oneself—ask for trouble
惹火烧身
stir up fire only to burn on eself;bring trouble upon oneself
惹火烧身rě huǒ shāo shēn
惹：招引。比喻自己招惹是非，害了自己。ask for trouble, get one’s fingers burnt, bring trouble on one’s own head, bring trouble upon oneself