lamb to the slaughter
Unsuspecting toward doom
A lamb to the slaughter is someone who goes innocently and unsuspectingly toward harm or destruction.
The phrase evokes a young animal led to be killed, unaware of its fate: She walked into that meeting like a lamb to the slaughter.
Often used when observers can see danger the victim cannot.
- sacrificial lambOne offered for others' benefit
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- parableInstructive allegorical narrative
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- innocenceFreedom from wrongdoing
naivety · blind trust · unawareness · guilelessness · deceit · victimhood · defenselessness · martyrdom · cautionary tale · Roald Dahl · exploitation · sitting duck · biblical imagery · allegory · manipulation · helplessness · no escape · symbolism
lamb to the slaughtereyes wide open
State of full awareness
forewarned · on guard · forewarned is forearmed · suspicious · streetwise
lamb to the slaughterfighting chance
Small but real possibility
loaded for bear · battle-hardened · on the offensive · survivor · escape artist
lamb to the slaughterwolf in sheep's clothing
Concealed threat appearing innocent
predator · hunter · fox in the henhouse · ambusher · apex predator
lambs, lambing, lambed, slaughter, slaughters, slaughtered, slaughtering, slaughterhouse