# a wolf in sheep's clothing

idiom · CEFR C1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/a-wolf-in-sheeps-clothing
Updated: 2026-07-29

## Meaning

A dangerous or hostile person who hides behind a harmless, friendly appearance.

## Examples

- He seemed friendly, but he was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
- The charity turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing, pocketing most of the donations it collected.
- The new investor arrived full of warm reassurances, a wolf in sheep's clothing whose real plan was to strip the company for parts and sell the name.

## Origin

The phrase comes from the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 7:15, where Jesus warns his listeners: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." The warning is about deceit — spiritual predators disguised as members of the flock. The image works because a sheep is the very picture of harmlessness, and a wolf its natural killer. To wear the one while being the other is to hide a threat behind the most reassuring possible face. A similar figure appears in Aesop's fables, but it is the Gospel wording that fixed the phrase in English. Today a wolf in sheep's clothing is anyone who presents a gentle, trustworthy exterior to mask hostile intent — a con artist with an honest smile, or a rival who plays the friend while working against you.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.