show the cloven foot

verb

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

Similar
show the cloven hoof
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Meanings

verbshow 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)

present singular third person shows the cloven foot · participle present showing the cloven foot · past showed the cloven foot · participle past shown the cloven foot

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

    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.

    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

    Synonyms: show the cloven hoof

Synonyms & antonyms

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

Similar
show the cloven hoof

Origin

Satan is depicted as having cloven feet.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish näyttää todellinen karvansa, näyttää todelliset karvansa
  • näyttää todellinen karvansato reveal a devilish character or an evil purpose, despite attempts to disguise it
  • näyttää todelliset karvansato reveal a devilish character or an evil purpose, despite attempts to disguise it
French montrer ses vraies couleurs, se montrer sous son vrai jour
  • montrer ses vraies couleursto reveal a devilish character or an evil purpose, despite attempts to disguise it
  • se montrer sous son vrai jourto reveal a devilish character or an evil purpose, despite attempts to disguise it
  • montrer son vrai visageto reveal a devilish character or an evil purpose, despite attempts to disguise it
Hungarian kimutatja a foga fehérjét, kibújik a szög a zsákból
  • kimutatja a foga fehérjétto reveal a devilish character or an evil purpose, despite attempts to disguise it
  • kibújik a szög a zsákbólto reveal a devilish character or an evil purpose, despite attempts to disguise it
  • kilóg a lólábto reveal a devilish character or an evil purpose, despite attempts to disguise it
Polish pokazywać swoje prawdziwe oblicze, pokazać swoje prawdziwe oblicze
  • pokazywać swoje prawdziwe obliczeto reveal a devilish character or an evil purpose, despite attempts to disguise it
  • pokazać swoje prawdziwe obliczeto reveal a devilish character or an evil purpose, despite attempts to disguise it
Cite this entry
APA

show the cloven foot. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/show%20the%20cloven%20foot

MLA

“show the cloven foot.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/show%20the%20cloven%20foot. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “show the cloven foot,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/show%20the%20cloven%20foot.

Source: show the cloven foot on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.