snake in the grass

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snake in the grass

/ˈsneɪk ɪn ðə ˈɡɹɑːs/ UK
/ˈsneɪk ɪn ðə ˈɡɹæs/ US

Rhymes with -ɑːs, -æs

Where it comes from

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.

noun snakes in the grass

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.
Similar: backstabber, wolf in sheep's clothing, betrayer, cockatrice, double-crosser, quisling, rat, ratter, recreant, renegade, serpent, snake

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MLA

"snake in the grass." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/snake%20in%20the%20grass. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

snake in the grass. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/snake%20in%20the%20grass

Chicago

"snake in the grass." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/snake%20in%20the%20grass.

BibTeX

@misc{snake_in_the_grass_2026,
  title = {snake in the grass},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/snake%20in%20the%20grass},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}