A wolf in sheeps clothing

A wolf in sheep’s clothing

Meaning

Someone who uses the pretence of kindliness to disguise their evil intent.

Examples

He was 38 but tried to pass himself off as a thirteen year old in order to get a date with a schoolgirl – a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Where did it originate?

Aesop.

Where is it used?

Widely used.

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About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.