crazy like a fox
Foolish only superficially
Crazy like a fox describes someone who appears foolish or irrational but is actually clever and calculating.
The fox in folklore is cunning, so the phrase suggests shrewdness disguised as madness: Everyone thought his business plan was insane, but he was crazy like a fox—he made millions.
- sly as a foxCunningly deceptive by nature
- fox in the henhouseSaboteur given access
- shrewdPractically clever, perceptive
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- slyCleverly deceptive
wolf in sheep's clothing · astute · wily · hidden agenda · ingenious · calculating · long game · unpredictable · wild card · clever · strategic · trickster · resourceful · crafty · smart · street smart · underestimated · playing dumb
crazy like a foxfool's gold
Iron sulfide mineral
all hat and no cattle · empty suit · bonkers · all bark and no bite · out of one's mind
crazy like a foxreckless
Carelessly ignoring danger
haphazard · scatterbrained · erratic · random · thoughtless
crazy like a foxwhat you see is what you get
No deception or concealment
straightforward · transparent · guileless · artless · naive
crazy, crazily, craziness, crazier, craziest, foxier, foxiest, foxhole, outfox