Phrase guide

nourish a viper in one's bosom

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To do acts of kindness that will be met with ingratitude and will cause one harm in the end.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cherish a snake in one's bosom

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Aesop's fable The Farmer and the Viper.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: hřát si hada na prsou — to do kind deeds rewarded with harm
  • Dutch: een adder aan zijn borst koesteren — to do kind deeds rewarded with harm
  • Finnish: elättää käärmettä povellaan — to do kind deeds rewarded with harm
  • Finnish: elättää kyytä povellaan — to do kind deeds rewarded with harm
  • French: réchauffer un serpent dans son sein — to do kind deeds rewarded with harm
  • German: eine Schlange am Busen nähren — to do kind deeds rewarded with harm
  • Hungarian: kígyót melenget a keblén — to do kind deeds rewarded with harm
  • Polish: hodować żmiję na własnym łonie — to do kind deeds rewarded with harm
  • Russian: пригре́ть змею́ на груди́ (prigrétʹ zmejú na grudí) — to do kind deeds rewarded with harm
  • Turkish: koynunda yılan beslemek — to do kind deeds rewarded with harm