"the (ground|floor|earth) [open] up and [swallow] {sb}" 的定义和意义

What is the origin of the idiom "the ground open up and swallow someone" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "the ground open up and swallow someone" can be traced back to biblical references. The phrase draws inspiration from passages in the Bible where the ground opened up and swallowed rebellious individuals as a divine punishment. This phrase is commonly used when discussing situations where someone has made a significant mistake, committed a social faux pas, or experienced a public failure, resulting in a profound sense of shame or embarrassment.