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)

1. 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

• Dutch: een adder aan zijn borst koesteren
• German: eine Schlange am Busen nähren (de)
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• Portuguese: please add this translation if you can
• Spanish: please add this translation if you can