snake in grass
Concealed treacherous person
A snake in the grass is a treacherous person who conceals hostile intentions behind a friendly manner.
The phrase evokes the danger of an unseen serpent lurking where you'd walk barefoot: I trusted him completely, but he turned out to be a snake in the grass.
The image dates to ancient Latin poetry but remains vivid in modern use.
- traitorOne who betrays allegiance
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
- stab in the backTreachery against an ally
- deceiverOne who tricks others
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
wolf in sheep's clothing · hidden · trust no one · lurking · venom · coiled · slither · cunning · danger · unseen · meadow · treacherous · viper · predator · ambush · serpent · bite · cold blooded
- Animal Idiomsblind as a bat, brave as a lion, busy bee, copycat, dark horse
- betrayalbackstab, betray, betrayal, traitor, backstabber
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- animal fablesfable, fables, beast fables, beast fable, animal fable
- body idiomsheart of gold, heart of stone, cold heart, warm heart, soft heart
snake in grasstrue friend
Genuinely loyal companion
loyal friend · faithful companion · straight shooter · true blue · ride or die
snake in grassstraight shooter
Forthright, blunt person
honest John · straight arrow · salt of the earth · heart on sleeve · open book
snake, grass, snakes, snaked, snaking, snaky, snakelike, grasses, grassy