bag of weasels

plural bags of weasels

1. informalSomething that has pronounced weaselly characteristics, such as pettiness, bad temper, and deviousness.

   Skulduggery mainly, but not exclusively, in the front row, 1966 & 1990s 'Props are as crafty as a bag of weasels,' as Bill McLaren famously said.

   2015, David Mortimer, Classic Rugby Clangers, →ISBN

   3 more examples

   When she entered the kitchen matters were going on as usual — her mother bustling in glorious style, and as cross (her husband muttered) "as a bag of weasels."

   1831, Mrs. S. C. Hall, Sketches of Irish character, page 180

   Ciril Usage was jist about as crass a crayther as you could find in a bag of weasels; but Charley, to himself be tould it, was a funny rogue, an' could take his weight out of any body he met; an' may be he didn't keep “Civil Usage” an' the women in other's hair the whole road.

   1842, The Citizen: Or, Dublin Monthly Magazine - Volumes 3-4, page 257

   There was still time for Sergio Ramos, as devious as a bag of weasels, to help engineer Cuadrado’s second yellow card with a bout of pretend agony but Madrid’s second-half performance had a lot more good than bad.

   2017 June 3, Daniel Taylor, “Real Madrid win Champions League as Cristiano Ronaldo double defeats Juve”, in The Guardian (London)