show the cloven foot

English

Etymology

Satan is depicted as having cloven feet.

Verb

show the cloven foot (third-person singular simple present shows the cloven foot, present participle showing the cloven foot, simple past showed the cloven foot, past participle shown the cloven foot)

1. (intransitive) To reveal a devilish character or an evil purpose, despite attempts to disguise it.

   Synonym: show the cloven hoof

   • 1852, “The Marriage of Johnny Beedle”, in Traits of American humour, by native authors, ed. and adapted by the author of 'Sam Slick'., page 77:

     Well, I went over to the Squire's, pretty well satisfied in my own mind; so, after flattering and crowing about her a little while, I up and shew the cloven foot.

Translations

to reveal a devilish character or an evil purpose, despite attempts to disguise it

• Finnish: näyttää todellinen karvansa, näyttää todelliset karvansa
• French: montrer ses vraies couleurs, se montrer sous son vrai jour, montrer son vrai visage
• Hungarian: kimutatja a foga fehérjét, kibújik a szög a zsákból, kilóg a lóláb
• Polish: pokazywać swoje prawdziwe oblicze impf, pokazać swoje prawdziwe oblicze pf

See also

• show one's true colours