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The idiom “a snake in the grass” refers to someone being dishonest or sneaking, hiding their true intentions while pretending to be friendly or harmless. This expression, which is often a part of English grammar warns us to be careful of people who might seem trustworthy but could cause harm or betrayal. For example, in a workplace, a colleague who appears supportive but secretly tries to undermine others could be called a “snake in the grass.” In this blog, you will more about this idiom, its usage and how you can implement it in your day-to-day situations.
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Also Read: Most Commonly Used Idioms in English
Usage With Examples
As mentioned above, this idiom highlights the idea of hidden danger and lies, often warning people to be careful of those who might appear reliable but have ulterior motives. Look at the some of these example which point this out clearly.
- Be careful with Tom; he acts friendly, but I’ve heard he’s a real snake in the grass, always trying to undermine his colleagues.
- I thought she was my friend, but when she spread those rumours about me, I realised she was a snake in the grass.
A Snake in The Grass Example Sentences
Using “snake in the grass” in a sentence makes it clear that the person is sneaking and cannot be trusted. The below sentences describe the same:
- Even though he seemed friendly, John turned out to be a snake in the grass, betraying us when we least expected it.
- The new colleague, who seemed so helpful at first, proved to be a snake in the grass, stealing credit for other people’s work.
- It’s hard to trust anyone in the corporate world because there’s always a snake in the grass waiting to undermine you.
- She had always been careful with her secrets, knowing there could be a snake in the grass among her friends.
- The politician’s seemingly kind gestures were nothing but a façade; he was a snake in the grass with his hidden agenda.
- When the team lost the game due to an unexpected foul, they realized they had a snake in the grass among them.
- Be cautious when sharing personal information online; you never know if there’s a snake in the grass waiting to exploit it.
Also read: Idioms on Fear To Avoid Being a Scary Cat
7+ Synonyms For A Snake in The Grass
These words and phrases capture the essence of someone who hides their true, malicious nature behind a facade of friendliness or loyalty in similar ways as that in the actual saying.
- Backstabber
- Betrayer
- Double-crosser
- Traitor
- Deceiver
- Hypocrite
- Two-faced person
- Untrustworthy person
- Wolf in sheep’s clothing
Snake in the Grass Quiz
Instruction: Which of the following best describes a “snake in the grass”?
A) A person who is always helpful and kind
B) A person who is deceitful and treacherous
C) A person who loves nature and spends a lot of time outdoors
D) A person who is shy and avoids social interactions
Answer: B) A person who is deceitful and treacherous.
Instruction: In which scenario would the idiom “a snake in the grass” be most appropriately used?
A) Mark helps his friends with their homework every day.
B) Lisa spreads false rumours about her friend while pretending to be supportive.
C) John loves gardening and takes care of his plants every weekend.
D) Emily is always the first to volunteer for community service projects.
Answer: B) Lisa spreads false rumours about her friend while pretending to be supportive.
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FAQs
“A snake in the grass” refers to someone deceitful or secretly harmful. For example, if someone is untrustworthy and hides their true intentions, they can be called a snake in the grass.
The story “A Snake in the Grass” teaches us the lesson that we should always be cautious and verify information before trusting others. Blindly trusting someone can lead to problems, as seen with the family in the story. The servant Dasa left them uncertain about whether he had caught the snake or if he was lying.
The family’s old servant acts to find a snake to keep his job. He leaves the house with an empty jar, while the cobra escapes on its own. The irony is that the servant, who is about to be rewarded by the family, is the real “snake in the grass.”
This was all about the idiom a snake in the grass meaning and examples You can also follow the Learn English page of Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs related to English grammar and the English language.
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