Dictionary

snake in the grass en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ˈsneɪk ɪn ðə ˈɡɹɑːs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈsneɪk ɪn ðə ˈɡɹæs/ (General-American)

Etymology

Calque of Latin latet anguis in herbā (literally “a snake hides in the grass”), from Eclogue III by the Roman poet Virgil (traditionally 70 – 19 B.C.E.). Compare Dutch addertje onder het gras.

Meanings

1. (derogatory, informal) A hidden enemy.
   • The trouble is, I trusted him too much from the start. He has proved to be a snake in the grass. 1906, Horatio Alger, Jr., “The Iron Works Affair”, in Randy of the River: Or The Adventures of a Young Deckhand (Rise in Life Series), New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC, page 57:
   • Following her presidential defeat, [Ségolène] Royal stunned many observers by publicly dumping Socialist Party leader François Hollande – her companion and the father of her four children – and announcing she'd seek his post during the current election. To some, that made Royal the symbol of the strong, modern woman in politics; to others, it cast her as the classic snake in the grass. 2008 November 21, Bruce Crumley, “Which Woman will Lead France’s Socialists?”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Warner Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 16 Jan 2012:
   • We were playing in Dallas, when that snake in the grass—Eight Ball, everyone called him—came up on my blind side … 1978, John Irving, “The World According to Marcus Aurelius”, in The World According to Garp […] (A Henry Robbins Book), New York, N.Y.: E[dward] P[ayson] Dutton, →ISBN, pages 271–272:
   • Is he not here to throw us out—a thief, a spy, a snake in the grass? 1914, William MacLeod Raine, “‘An Optimistic Guy’”, in A Daughter of the Dons: A Story of New Mexico To-day, New York, N.Y.: G. W. Dillingham Company, →OCLC, page 71:
   • He's a snake in the grass, I tell you guys / He may look dumb but that's just a disguise / He's a mastermind in the ways of espionage. 1973 June, Charlie Daniels, “Uneasy Rider”, performed by Charlie Daniels, New York, N.Y.: Kama Sutra Records, →OCLC:

Forms

Relateds

fifth column · grass snake

Synonyms

withersake · serpent · betrayer · turntippet · rat · swike · snake · treasonist · backstabber · cockatrice · treacherer · snake in the grass · wolf in sheep's clothing · treacher · double-crosser · ratter · recreant · traitor · quisling · renegade · wolf in sheep's clothing · backstabber

wikipedia: Virgil