The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

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The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing is one of the fables of Aesop.

Fable

According to the fable, a hungry wolf came upon a sheep's fleece lying on the ground in a field. The wolf realized that if it wore the fleece, it would look like a sheep from a distance. That would enable the wolf to sneak up on a flock of sheep and steal a lamb for its supper, before the shepherd noticed his presence.

The wolf put on the fleece, and went off in search of a flock of sheep. It spied a flock of sheep just as the sun was setting, and approached the flock. Just as it was about to pounce on a lamb, a shepherd came by, looking for a sheep to slaughter for supper. Thinking the disguised wolf was a sheep, the shepherd quickly grabbed and killed the wolf.

An alternate version is, another wolf is sneaking around looking for a sheep for dinner, and pounces on the wolf in sheep's clothing, killing it and eating it for supper instead of a real sheep.

The intended lesson was, "Frauds and liars are always discovered, eventually, and pay for their actions accordingly."

Usage

In English, "a wolf in sheep's clothing" has become a common metaphor for any hidden danger, or for any enemy putting on a false display of friendship. As a result, the phrase "a sheep in wolf's clothing" has also become used, ironically, for something or someone harmless who blusters or tries to appear menacing.

Winston Churchill once described a political opponent (either Clement Atlee or Ramsay MacDonald depending upon sources) as a sheep in sheep's clothing.

The image of a wolf in sheep's clothing is common in many cultures, such as it being echoed in 15, which states, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." (KJV).

The punk band NOFX released an album entitled Wolves in Wolves' Clothing in 2006.

The phrase was also the inspiration behind the Airwolf series from the 1980s.

The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Fable

Usage

References

See also