IdiomNature
Malay
MalayHarapkan pagar, pagar makan padi
Meaning: Betrayed by the very one you trusted to protect you.
Literally: You trusted the fence, but the fence ate the rice
Example: “Bendahari persatuan mencuri dana; harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi.” — The club treasurer stole the funds; he was a snake in the grass.
English equivalent: A snake in the grass
Origin: A Malay peribahasa: the fence put up to protect the rice field is itself eating the rice. It is used of a guardian or trusted person who betrays the trust placed in them.
Equivalents in other languages
Japanese: 腹が黒い (hara ga kuroi) Literally: The belly is black
Urdu: آستین کا سانپ (aasteen ka saanp) Literally: A snake in the sleeve
English: a snake in the grass
More Malay idioms
- Bagai aur dengan tebing A mutually supportive relationship.
- Ada udang di sebalik batu There is a hidden motive.
- Melepaskan batuk di tangga To do a job half-heartedly and leave it unfinished.
- Kacang lupakan kulit To forget your roots and origins.
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