这个短语的意思是指某人自己造成麻烦，而不是别人给他带来的。这个短语可能源自英语中的“to make trouble for oneself”或“to bring trouble upon oneself”的简略版。
例句：
He's just looking for trouble by talking back to his boss pke that. (他那样回答老板就是在自找麻烦。)
She's always getting herself into trouble. (她总是自己惹麻烦。)
Don't go poking around in that old building, you're just asking for trouble. (不要去那座旧建筑里瞎搞，你就是在自找麻烦。)