nourish a viper in one's bosom
English
Alternative forms
- cherish a snake in one's bosom
Etymology
From Aesop's fable The Farmer and the Viper.
Verb
nourish a viper in one's bosom (third-person singular simple present nourishes a viper in one's bosom, present participle nourishing a viper in one's bosom, simple past and past participle nourished a viper in one's bosom)
- (idiomatic) to do acts of kindness that will be met with ingratitude and will cause one harm in the end
Translations
to do kind deeds rewarded with harm
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