nourish a viper in one's bosom

verb

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

Similar
cherish a snake in one's bosom
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Meanings

verbnourish 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)

present singular third person nourishes a viper in one's bosom · participle present nourishing a viper in one's bosom · participle past nourished a viper in one's bosom · past nourished a viper in one's bosom

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

    Synonyms: cherish a snake in one's bosom

Synonyms & antonyms

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

Similar
cherish a snake in one's bosom
Also see
cherish a snake in one's bosom

Origin

From Aesop's fable The Farmer and the Viper.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech hřát si hada na prsou
  • hřát si hada na prsouto do kind deeds rewarded with harm
Dutch een adder aan zijn borst koesteren
  • een adder aan zijn borst koesterento do kind deeds rewarded with harm
Finnish elättää käärmettä povellaan, elättää kyytä povellaan
  • elättää käärmettä povellaanto do kind deeds rewarded with harm
  • elättää kyytä povellaanto do kind deeds rewarded with harm
French réchauffer un serpent dans son sein
  • réchauffer un serpent dans son seinto do kind deeds rewarded with harm
German eine Schlange am Busen nähren
  • eine Schlange am Busen nährento do kind deeds rewarded with harm
Hungarian kígyót melenget a keblén
  • kígyót melenget a keblénto do kind deeds rewarded with harm
Polish hodować żmiję na własnym łonie
  • hodować żmiję na własnym łonieto do kind deeds rewarded with harm
Russian пригре́ть змею́ на груди́
  • пригре́ть змею́ на груди́ (prigrétʹ zmejú na grudí)to do kind deeds rewarded with harm
Swedish nära en orm vid sin barm
  • nära en orm vid sin barmto do kind deeds rewarded with harm
Turkish koynunda yılan beslemek
  • koynunda yılan beslemekto do kind deeds rewarded with harm
Cite this entry
APA

nourish a viper in one's bosom. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nourish%20a%20viper%20in%20one's%20bosom

MLA

“nourish a viper in one's bosom.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nourish%20a%20viper%20in%20one's%20bosom. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nourish a viper in one's bosom,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nourish%20a%20viper%20in%20one's%20bosom.

Source: nourish a viper in one's bosom on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.