English Explanatory Dictionary

fox in the henhouse

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

Someone untrustworthy placed in a position of trust in which they will be harmful, damaging or detrimental for their own personal gain.

Pronunciation

En-au-fox in the henhouse.ogg

Word forms

fox in the henhouse foxes in the henhouse foxes in henhouses fox guarding the henhouse

Etymology

A metaphor referring to the fox as a predator that would prey on the chickens if given an opportunity to do so.

Related words

cock in the henhouse wolf guarding the sheep accident waiting to happen set the cat among the pigeons

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