Cruising For A Bruising Meaning

(idiomatic) Following a course of action likely to result in injury or other trouble for oneself.

Example: 1945 Nov. 30, "Underdog, Undaunted Navy Ready for Army," The Independent Record (Helena, Montana):
  Navy should score once but the Mid-shipmen definitely are cruising for a bruising.
2008 Jan. 17, Bill Barnhart, "Dulled foreign gleam could lead to gloom," Chicago Tribune:
  The Euroland economy has been cruising for a bruising for a while.