IdiomAnimalsUrdu

آستین کا سانپ (aasteen ka saanp)

Meaning: A treacherous false friend.

Literally: A snake in the sleeve

Example: “جس دوست پر بھروسا کیا، وہی آستین کا سانپ نکلا۔” — The friend I trusted turned out to be a snake in the grass.

English equivalent: A snake in the grass

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Origin: A snake hidden in one's own sleeve can strike at any moment. Āstīn kā sāṇp is a treacherous friend, someone close who betrays. English has "a snake in the grass" and "to nurse a viper in one's bosom." The phrase is shared with Hindi.

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