sly fox
Devious clever creature
A sly fox is a person known for being cunning, crafty, or cleverly deceptive.
The expression draws on the traditional characterization of foxes as wily creatures who outsmart hunters and raid henhouses undetected.
Calling someone a sly fox can be either admiring or mildly critical, depending on context: He's a sly fox—got the promotion without anyone seeing it coming.
The phrase often carries a tone of grudging respect for someone's shrewdness.
- wilySkilled at deception
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- shrewdPractically clever, perceptive
- cleverShowing mental quickness
sneaky · silver tongue · beast fable · henhouse · devious · deceitful · slyboots · trickster · Aesop · guileful · furtive · astute · hunt · den · bushy · bushy tail · red fur · woodland
- animal nicknamesking of the jungle, man's best friend, king of beasts, busy bee, eager beaver
- fox folklorekitsune, Reynard, trickster tales
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, wily
- animal expressionslet sleeping dogs lie, raining cats and dogs, curiosity killed cat, horse sense, wild goose chase
- animal fablesfable, fables, beast fables, beast fable, animal fable
- fablesfable, Aesop, Aesop's fables, Aesop fables, tortoise and hare
sly foxsitting duck
Defenseless person or thing
easy mark · babe in the woods · simple soul · sucker · dupe
sly, fox, foxy, foxes, slyness, outfox, foxiness, outfoxed, outfoxing