wolf in sheep's clothing
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wolf in sheep's clothing
- /ˈwʊlf ɪn ˈʃiːps ˈkləʊðɪŋ/ UK
- /ˈwʊlf ən ˈʃips ˈkloʊðɪŋ/ US
Where it comes from
From Matthew 7:15 in the Bible (King James Version; spelling modernized): “Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
noun wolves in sheep's clothing
-
Someone who or something which is harmful or threatening but disguised as something peaceful or pleasant.
He ſaith, He doth not plead for all who go under the name of Miniſters in England; he fears there is many of them no better than Wolves in Sheep's Clothing, &c. Then why doth he not come out, and cry againſt them, but remain amongſt them in their Practice? For wherein can he clear himſelf of any one
Similar: wolf in a lamb's skin, backstabber, betrayer, cockatrice, double-crosser, quisling, rat, ratter, recreant, renegade, serpent, snake · Opposite: paper tiger, sheep in wolf's clothing
Translations
Every language
noun someone or something harmful or threatening but disguised as something peaceful or pleasant
| Español | un lobo con piel de cordero, lobo con piel de oveja, lobo disfrazado de cordero, mosca muerta, mosquita muerta |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 내숭 naesung |
| 日本語 | 羊の皮を着た狼 hitsuji no kawa o kita ōkami |
| 中文 | 披著羊皮的狼 pī zhe yángpí de láng, 笑裡藏刀 /笑里藏刀 xiàolǐcángdāo, 黃鼠狼給雞拜年——沒安好心 /黄鼠狼给鸡拜年——没安好心 huángshǔláng gěi jī bàinián, méi ān hǎoxīn |
| हिन्दी | भेड़ की खाल में भेड़िया bheṛ kī khāl mẽ bheṛiyā |
| Português | lobo em pele de cordeiro |
| Français | loup déguisé en agneau, loup déguisé en brebis, loup déguisé en mouton |
| Deutsch | Wolf im Schafspelz |
| Italiano | lupo travestito da agnello |
| Ελληνικά | λύκος εις δέρμα προβάτου lýkos eis dérma provátou, λύκος ντυμένος πρόβατο lýkos ntyménos próvato |
| Română | lup îmbrăcat în piele de oaie |
| Русский | волк в ове́чьей шку́ре volk v ovéčʹjej škúre |
| Tiếng Việt | miệng nam mô, bụng một bồ dao găm, miệng nam mô, bụng bồ dao găm, miệng bồ tát dạ ớt ngâm, sói đội lốt cừu, khẩu phật tâm xà, ném đá giấu tay |
| العربية | ذِئْبٌ فِي ثَوْبِ حَمَلٍ ḏiʔbun fī ṯawbi ḥamalin |
Talk about this word "wolf in sheep's clothing." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/wolf%20in%20sheep's%20clothing. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. wolf in sheep's clothing. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/wolf%20in%20sheep's%20clothing "wolf in sheep's clothing." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/wolf%20in%20sheep's%20clothing.Cite this
@misc{wolf_in_sheep_s_clothing_2026,
title = {wolf in sheep's clothing},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/wolf%20in%20sheep's%20clothing},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
