ProverbChallengeEnglish origin

He covers me with his wings, and bites me with his bill.

Meaning: A protector may simultaneously harm you through the very closeness required to defend you.

Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.

Explore another collection: False Friends

Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

Browse all false friends →

Keep exploring

Explore all proverbs →