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)

to do acts of kindness that will be met with ingratitude or harm

Translations

to do kind deeds rewarded with harm

Dutch: een adder aan zijn borst koesteren
German: please add this translation if you can

Portuguese: please add this translation if you can
Spanish: please add this translation if you can

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