Bite the Hand that Feeds You
- noun: An ungrateful and treacherous friend; an individual whom one has helped and who returns the favor with betrayal.*
Origin
This term comes from Aesop’s fable about a peasant who brings indoors a snake dying from the cold and is fatally bitten as soon as the snake recovers. Chaucer was among the first of the many writers to use this metaphor, which also made its way into the proverb collections of John Ray (1670), James Kelly (1721), and Thomas Fuller (1732). The term is variously put as snake or viper.
Synonyms
- Ingrate
- Betrayer
- Backstabber
- Judas
Antonyms
- Loyal
- Grateful
- Faithful
- Trustworthy
Related Expressions and Proverbs
- “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
- “A snake in the grass.”
- “Et tu, Brute?”
- “Wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
- “Stabbed in the back.”
Humor-Filled Quotes
“The snake that bites the hand that feeds it ends up eating pasta at Applebee’s alone.” - F. O. Talltales
“Never trust a snake or a dog who doesn’t wag its tail at the dinner table.” - Anonymous
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Literature: The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore - a novel dripping with duplicity.
- Books: Snake in the Grass: A Memoir of Treachery by Alexander Wright - a true-life gut-wrenching recount.
- Songs: “You’re the Snake” by Random Chords - a funky anthem of betrayal.
- Poetry: The Snake by Emily Dickinson - weaving treachery with metaphor.
- Movies: The Talented Mr. Ripley - the ultimate cinematic portrayal of deceit.
Inspirational Thought-Provoking Farewell
Remember, in this grand play called life, choose compassion over betrayal, kindness over cruelty, and loyalty over treachery. Life could throw us many snakes, but it’s up to us to steer clear and walk with integrity.
