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Idioms are fun phrases that mean something different from their actual words, adding color and creativity to our daily conversations. People use them to express complex ideas, feelings, or character traits in a short, memorable way. In this article, you will learn fifty helpful idioms that describe a backstabber, which is someone who betrays trust or acts deceitfully behind your back.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean a sneaky or untrustworthy person. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Backstabber
1. Snake in the grass
Definition: A secret enemy who pretends to be a friend while doing harmful things behind your back.
Used in a Sentence: Leo smiled to my face, but I later found out he was a snake in the grass who shared my secrets. / Do not trust every smiling stranger, because a snake in the grass is always hiding nearby.
Similar Expressions: Two-faced friend / Hidden enemy
2. Two-faced
Definition: Said of someone who says one thing to your face and a completely different thing behind your back.
Used in a Sentence: Sarah acted so sweet at lunch, but her two-faced comments about my outfit hurt my feelings. / It is hard to keep a friendship with someone who is two-faced and gossips constantly.
Similar Expressions: Double-dealer / Insincere pal
3. Wolf in sheep’s clothing
Definition: A dangerous person who hides their true malicious intent behind a gentle or harmless appearance.
Used in a sentence: The new volunteer seemed very kind, but he turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. / We thought he was a gentle helper, but his wolf in sheep’s clothing nature was soon revealed.
Similar Expressions: Deceiver / False friend
4. Judas kiss
Definition: An act of betrayal disguised as a friendly greeting or sign of affection.
Used in a Sentence: When Mark hugged me before telling the teacher on me, it felt like a true Judas kiss. / Beware of the Judas kiss from people who only act nice when they want something from you.
Similar Expressions: Treacherous hug / Fake kindness
5. Stab in the back
Definition: A sudden and unexpected betrayal by someone you thought you could trust.
Used in a Sentence: Voting against my plan after promising to support it was a total stab in the back. / She felt a sharp stab in the back when her best friend spread rumors about her.
Similar Expressions: Betrayal / Treachery
6. Fair-weather friend
Definition: Someone who is your friend only when things are good and leaves you when trouble comes.
Used in a Sentence: When I lost my sports scholarship, all my fair-weather friends suddenly stopped calling me. / You only know who truly cares because a fair-weather friend disappears during hard times.
Similar Expressions: Untrustworthy companion / Conditional pal
7. Rat out
Definition: To betray someone by telling a secret or reporting their bad behavior to an authority figure.
Used in a Sentence: Liam decided to rat out his classmates instead of taking the blame for the prank. / I never thought my own brother would rat me out to our parents for staying out late.
Similar Expressions: Tattle / Snitch
8. Sell down the river
Definition: To betray someone completely for personal gain or to save oneself.
Used in a Sentence: Max sold his teammate down the river by blaming him entirely for the lost game. / Never trust a partner who will sell you down the river the moment trouble starts.
Similar Expressions: Betray for profit / Abandon trust
9. Bite the hand that feeds you
Definition: To turn against or harm someone who helps and supports you.
Used in a Sentence: Helping Paul get a job only for him to steal my project was biting the hand that feeds you. / When you insult your teachers, you are biting the hand that feeds you education.
Similar Expressions: Ungrateful betrayal / Harm helper
10. Pull the rug out
Definition: To suddenly withdraw support or betray someone’s trust when they depend on you.
Used in a Sentence: Just as we finished the poster, the principal pulled the rug out by canceling the art show. / It hurts when a close ally pulls the rug out from under your feet.
Similar Expressions: Desert suddenly / Undermine support
11. Whisper behind my back
Definition: To spread gossip and rumors secretly while acting friendly to the person.
Used in a Sentence: I heard them whispering behind my back about my new haircut during recess. / Instead of whispering behind my back, they should just tell me their issues directly.
Similar Expressions: Gossip secretly / Talk maliciously
12. Cross the double-cross
Definition: To betray someone who has already betrayed another person, creating a web of lies.
Used in a Sentence: The dishonest helper tried to cross the double-cross, but everyone saw through his tricks. / You cannot build a strong team with people who constantly cross and double-cross each other.
Similar Expressions: Mutual betrayal / Double trick
13. Turn coat
Definition: Someone who changes their loyalty and switches sides to betray their original group.
Used in a Sentence: Leaving our club to join the rival team made everyone call Anna a turncoat. / A true teammate never acts like a turncoat when the competition gets tough.
Similar Expressions: Switch sides / Traitor
14. Play both sides
Definition: To act friendly with two opposing groups or people to gain an advantage.
Used in a Sentence: Tim tried to play both sides of the argument, but both groups eventually caught on. / You cannot play both sides in an argument without losing everyone’s trust.
Similar Expressions: Straddle the fence / Double agent
15. Trojanh horse
Definition: A person or thing that brings internal destruction hidden inside a helpful gift.
Used in a Sentence: Bringing that sneaky student into our study group was like letting a Trojan horse inside. / We realized the new software was a digital Trojan horse meant to steal our data.
Similar Expressions: Secret threat / Hidden danger
16. Black sheep
Definition: An odd or untrustworthy member of a family or group who does not fit the rules.
Used in a Sentence: Uncle Joe is considered the black sheep because he constantly lies to relatives. / She felt like the black sheep of the group after betraying their shared secret.
Similar Expressions: Outcast / Unreliable member
17. Cut throat
Definition: Describes fierce, dishonest competition where people will betray each other to win.
Used in a Sentence: The science fair felt like a cutthroat competition where students hid their notes. / Working in such a cutthroat environment means you always have to watch your back.
Similar Expressions: Ruthless / Vicious
18. Shed crocodile tears
Definition: To show fake sadness or crying to trick people into feeling sorry for you.
Used in a Sentence: Tom shed crocodile tears when he got caught, but nobody believed he was actually sorry. / Do not fall for her crocodile tears because she loves causing drama.
Similar Expressions: Fake crying / Insincere sorrow
19. Velvet glove
Definition: A polite and gentle manner that hides a harsh, deceitful, or cruel nature.
Used in a Sentence: Her harsh criticism came wrapped in a velvet glove of polite compliments. / Beneath his velvet glove approach, he was a very manipulative person.
Similar Expressions: Polite tyrant / Soft trick
20. Salt in the wound
Definition: To make a painful betrayal or bad situation even worse with mean remarks.
Used in a Sentence: Teasing me about losing the election added salt to the wound after my friend ran against me. / Reminding me of the mistake was like rubbing salt in the wound.
Similar Expressions: Worsen pain / Agravate hurt
21. Throw under the bus
Definition: To sacrifice or betray a friend or colleague to save yourself from trouble.
Used in a Sentence: When the teacher asked who broke the vase, Leo threw his best friend under the bus. / I was shocked when my partner threw me under the bus during the presentation.
Similar Expressions: Sacrifice partner / Blame shift
22. Fair-weather friend
Definition: A person who is only loyal when things are going great and disappears during hard times.
Used in a Sentence: When I broke my leg, my fair-weather friend stopped visiting me at home. / You find out who your real friends are when fair-weather friends run away.
Similar Expressions: Untrue pal / Unreliable friend
23. Playing possum
Definition: Pretending to be asleep, harmless, or unaware to trick an unsuspecting person.
Used in a Sentence: My little brother was playing possum when I asked who ate the last cookie. / The sneaky neighbor was playing possum while listening to our private conversation.
Similar Expressions: Playing dead / Feigning ignorance
24. Sugar-coat
Definition: To make an unpleasant betrayal or harsh truth sound much nicer than it actually is.
Used in a Sentence: Do not try to sugar-coat your betrayal by saying you did it for my own good. / She refused to sugar-coat the bad news about who leaked the secret.
Similar Expressions: Soften truth / Gloss over
25. Leave in the lurch
Definition: To abandon someone in a difficult situation without any help or warning.
Used in a Sentence: Walking out right before the group project was due left us completely in the lurch. / A true backstabber will always leave you in the lurch when things get hard.
Similar Expressions: Desert in need / Abandon high and dry
26. Smoke and mirrors
Definition: A clever trick or illusion meant to hide dishonest or deceptive actions.
Used in a Sentence: His apology was just smoke and mirrors to hide the fact that he stole the idea. / The company’s promise of loyalty was all smoke and mirrors.
Similar Expressions: Illusion / Deceptive trick
27. Painted sepulchre
Definition: Something or someone that looks beautiful and good on the outside, but is corrupt inside.
Used in a Sentence: The polite gentleman was a painted sepulchre who cheated people out of their money. / Do not judge by appearances alone, lest you trust a painted sepulchre.
Similar Expressions: False beauty / Rotten core
28. False alarm
Definition: A misleading warning or rumor that creates panic or distrust without reason.
Used in a Sentence: The rumor that our club was closing turned out to be a false alarm started by a gossip. / We worried for nothing because the betrayal report was a false alarm.
Similar Expressions: Untrue alert / Fake scare
29. Honeyed words
Definition: Flattering or sweet words used by a deceitful person to win your trust.
Used in a Sentence: He used honeyed words to convince me to lend him my favorite video game, which he lost. / Beware of honeyed words from people who never back them up with actions.
Similar Expressions: Flattery / Sweet talk
30. Behind closed doors
Definition: Secretly, away from public view, where betrayal or deceit often takes place.
Used in a Sentence: The team members made a plan to vote me out behind closed doors. / All the unfair choices were decided behind closed doors without my knowledge.
Similar Expressions: Secretly / Privately
31. Playing dirty
Definition: Using unfair, dishonest, or backstabbing tactics to win a game or competition.
Used in a Sentence: We lost the soccer match because the other team was playing dirty all afternoon. / It is better to lose honestly than win by playing dirty.
Similar Expressions: Cheating / Unfair play
32. Fox in the hen house
Definition: A sneaky troublemaker placed in a vulnerable position where they can do serious damage.
Used in a Sentence: Appointing him as the money manager was like putting a fox in the hen house. / The mischievous student was like a fox in the hen house during the quiet study hour.
Similar Expressions: Danger inside / Vulnerable spot
33. Behind one’s back
Definition: Doing something sneaky or harmful without the other person knowing about it.
Used in a Sentence: It hurts when people make fun of you behind your back instead of talking to you. / They planned the surprise prank entirely behind my back.
Similar Expressions: Secretly / Surreptitiously
34. Sell out
Definition: To betray your values, friends, or group for money, fame, or personal benefit.
Used in a Sentence: He decided to sell out his bandmates by signing a solo contract behind their backs. / True artists never sell out their fans for a quick paycheck.
Similar Expressions: Betray values / Compromise loyalty
35. Back-alley deal
Definition: A secret, dishonest agreement made outside of official or fair rules.
Used in a Sentence: The election results were questioned after rumors of a back-alley deal spread through school. / They made a back-alley deal to share the prize money unfairly.
Similar Expressions: Secret agreement / Shady pact
36. Pitch a curveball
Definition: To surprise someone with an unexpected obstacle or betrayal that ruins their plan.
Used in a Sentence: My lab partner pitched a curveball by deleting our entire project file the night before. / Life can pitch a curveball, but real backstabbers do it on purpose.
Similar Expressions: Throw a wrench / Surprise attack
37. Bite the tongue
Definition: To stop yourself from exposing a liar, though sometimes backstabbers use it to hide smiles.
Used in a Sentence: I had to bite my tongue while listening to the deceitful story my classmate told. / She bit her tongue to keep from revealing the backstabber’s secret plan.
Similar Expressions: Stay quiet / Hold back words
38. Weather the storm
Definition: To survive a difficult period caused by someone’s betrayal or malicious actions.
Used in a Sentence: Our friendship took a hit, but we managed to weather the storm together. / After the backstabber left our club, we weathered the storm and grew stronger.
Similar Expressions: Endure hardship / Survive trouble
39. Double cross
Definition: To trick or betray someone after you have promised to work together with them.
Used in a Sentence: We agreed to share the chores, but my partner tried to double cross me by doing nothing. / Never trust a criminal who will double cross his own partners.
Similar Expressions: Betray alliance / Trick partner
40. Empty vessel
Definition: A person who talks a lot with false promises but has no real loyalty or substance.
Used in a Sentence: He promised to help everyone, but he turned out to be an empty vessel when we needed him. / Do not rely on an empty vessel for serious support.
Similar Expressions: All talk / Shallow person
41. Fair-weather pal
Definition: An unreliable friend who only hangs around when things are easy and fun.
Used in a Sentence: When my grades dropped, my fair-weather pal stopped sitting with me at lunch. / A true friend stays, while a fair-weather pal runs away.
Similar Expressions: Temporary friend / Unsteady companion
42. Playing fast and loose
Definition: Acting in an irresponsible, untrustworthy, or deceitful manner with rules and people.
Used in a Sentence: He was playing fast and loose with our group budget, losing all our funds. / You cannot play fast and loose with people’s feelings without hurting them.
Similar Expressions: Being reckless / Acting untrustworthily
43. Pull the wool over eyes
Definition: To deceive or trick someone into believing something that is completely untrue.
Used in a Sentence: The dishonest student tried to pull the wool over the teacher’s eyes about his homework. / You cannot pull the wool over my eyes because I know the truth.
Similar Expressions: Trick someone / Pull a fast one
44. Rat race
Definition: A fierce, selfish, and competitive routine where people betray each other to get ahead.
Used in a Sentence: Working in that office felt like a tiring rat race where everyone tried to look better than others. / She wanted to escape the corporate rat race and find genuine friends.
Similar Expressions: Competitive rush / Dog-eat-dog world
45. Scapegoat
Definition: Someone who is unfairly blamed for a mistake or betrayal committed by someone else.
Used in a Sentence: The real culprit hid the truth, leaving innocent Sam to act as the scapegoat. / Do not let others use you as a scapegoat for their messy mistakes.
Similar Expressions: Fall guy / Blamed party
46. Sneak around
Definition: To move or act in a stealthy, dishonest way to hide bad behavior from others.
Used in a Sentence: I caught my brother sneaking around my room looking for my diary. / People who sneak around usually have something dishonest to hide.
Similar Expressions: Prowl / Be stealthy
47. Traitor in the camp
Definition: An enemy operating secretly from within a trusted group of friends or teammates.
Used in a Sentence: When our secret game strategy leaked, we knew there was a traitor in the camp. / Finding a traitor in the camp broke our team spirit completely.
Similar Expressions: Internal enemy / Spy
48. Underhanded
Definition: Acting in a secret, dishonest, or sneaky way to achieve a goal.
Used in a Sentence: Changing the rules while nobody was looking was a very underhanded trick. / I dislike underhanded behavior because honest teamwork is much better.
Similar Expressions: Sneaky / Deceitful
49. Walk all over
Definition: To treat someone badly, disrespectfully, or use their kindness for selfish reasons.
Used in a Sentence: You should stand up for yourself and not let bullies walk all over you. / She let her friends walk all over her until she finally found better companions.
Similar Expressions: Take advantage / Mistreat
50. Worm your way
Definition: To gain someone’s trust through sly, flattering, and dishonest behavior.
Used in a Sentence: He tried to worm his way into our group just to find out our private club secrets. / Watch out for people who try to worm their way into your life with fake smiles.
Similar Expressions: Ingratiate sneakily / Creep in
Exercise to Practice
- When my teammate lied to the coach to save himself, he acted like a snake in the grass.
- Sarah was so supportive and loyal, making her a classic two-faced friend.
- The new volunteer who stole our supplies turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
- John was a fair-weather friend who abandoned me the moment I needed help with my project.
- My brother decided to rat out our secret hiding spot to our parents.
- When Mark spread rumors about me behind closed doors, he was showing true loyalty.
- Dropping my project on the floor right before grading was a helpful curveball.
- Anna acted like a turncoat when she switched to the rival debate team.
- Sharing your snacks with everyone is a clear example of biting the hand that feeds you.
- The student shedding crocodile tears was genuinely heartbroken over losing his eraser.
- Getting a lovely birthday gift from your best friend is a hurtful stab in the back.
- Working in a cutthroat environment means people might try to throw you under the bus.
- Spreading gossip about your classmates behind their backs is an underhanded action.
- Trusting a person who plays both sides is a safe and reliable choice.
- When the tricky salesman stole our money, he left us completely in the lurch.
Answer Key
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
Conclusion
Learning these idioms helps you spot tricky behavior and understand when someone is not being completely honest with you. By keeping these expressions in mind, you can better protect your trust and communicate your feelings clearly. Try using a few of these phrases when chatting with friends or writing stories to make your English sound more natural and engaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common idioms for a backstabber?
Some of the most common idioms for a backstabber include snake in the grass, two-faced, and stab in the back. These expressions vividly describe someone who pretends to be nice while acting dishonestly behind your scenes.
Why do we use idioms about betrayal in English?
We use these idioms because they paint a clear picture in the listener’s mind, making complex emotional situations easier to describe. Instead of a long explanation, a single phrase like wolf in sheep’s clothing instantly conveys the whole story.
How can I tell if someone is a backstabber?
People who act backstabber-like often share secrets, act overly sweet to your face, and disappear when you face tough times. Paying attention to their actions rather than just their words helps reveal their true nature.
Can idioms about backstabbers be used in school?
Yes, these idioms are great for creative writing assignments, stories, or discussing characters in literature class. They help make your writing more colorful and expressive.
Are all sneaky people called a snake in the grass?
While snake in the grass is a very popular term for a secret enemy, you can also use phrases like two-faced, turncoat, or underhanded depending on the situation. Each idiom highlights a slightly different style of sneaky behavior.
