# snake in the grass

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsneɪk ɪn ðə ˈɡɹɑːs/

## Definitions
1. A hidden enemy.

## Etymology
Calque of Latin latet anguis in herbā (literally “a snake hides in the grass”), from Eclogue III by the Roman poet Virgil (traditionally 70 – 19 B.C.E.). Compare Dutch addertje onder het gras.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/snake-in-the-grass