a snake in the grass

Meaning: A treacherous person who pretends to be a friend.

Example: “I trusted him with the plans, but he was a snake in the grass.”

Origin: From Virgil's Eclogues: "latet anguis in herba" (a snake lurks in the grass). The English phrase is found from the 17th century.

Equivalents in other languages

Japanese: 腹が黒い (hara ga kuroi) Literally: The belly is black
Malay: Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi Literally: You trusted the fence, but the fence ate the rice
Urdu: آستین کا سانپ (aasteen ka saanp) Literally: A snake in the sleeve

give one's eyeteeth for something To want something very badly.
a stroke of luck A sudden, unexpected piece of good fortune.
like chalk and cheese Completely different, though perhaps similar at first glance.
blush to the roots of one's hair To go very red with embarrassment.
not see beyond the end of one's nose To have a narrow outlook and ignore anything beyond one's immediate concerns.
word gets around News and rumors spread quickly from person to person.

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