Meaning: aardwolf

n.
striped hyena of southeast Africa that feeds chiefly on insects

wol Idiom, Proverb

a wolf in sheep's clothing

an evil person who looks innocent The priest looked harmless, but he was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

AWOL

Absent Without Leave - often used in the military The military police were searching the area for the soldier who had gone AWOL.

cry wolf

give a false alarm, warn of a danger that is not there He is crying wolf. There is no real danger or worry about the electrical system causing a fire.

keep the wolf from the door

keep us fed, prevent hunger This cheque will keep the wolf from the door. We can buy food.

the wolf is at the door

poverty is coming, keep the wolf... A month after my husband lost his job, the wolf was at the door.

the wolf knocking

(See the wolf is at the door)

throw someone to the wolves

send someone into danger without protection He decided to throw his co-worker to the wolves when he asked him to go and see the other company.

throw to the wolves

send into danger without protection The small boy was thrown to the wolves when he was made to join the team of older players.

wolf down

eat quickly, inhale The boys wolfed down their lunch and ran out to play soccer.

wolf in sheep

a person who pretends to be good but really is bad Be careful of that man. He is a wolf in sheep

wolf in sheep's clothing

(See a wolf in sheep's clothing)

throw sb to the wolves

Idiom(s): throw sb to the wolves

Theme: SACRIFICE

to (figuratively) sacrifice someone.
• The press was demanding an explanation, so the mayor blamed the mess on John and threw him to the wolves.
• I wouldn't let them throw me to the wolves! I did nothing wrong, and I won't take the blame for their errors.

go AWOL

Idiom(s): go AWOL

Theme: ABSENCE

to become absent without leave.
• Private Smith went AWOL last Wednesday. Now he's in a military prison.
• Tom went AWOL once too often.

Who makes himself a sheep will be eaten by the wol

Possible interpretation: an easily influenced person can be mislead.

Keep the wolf at bay

If you keep the wolf at bay, you make enough money to avoid going hungry or falling heavily into debt.

absent without leave|AWOL|absent|leave

adj. Absent without permission; used mostly in the military. Jack left Fort Sheridan without asking his commanding officer, and was punished for going AWOL.

cry wolf|cry|wolf

v. phr. To give a false alarm; warn of a danger that you know is not there. The general said that the candidate was just crying wolf when he said that the army was too weak to fight for the country. (From an old story about a shepherd boy who falsely claimed a wolf was killing his sheep, just to start some excitement.)

keep the wolf from the door|door|from the door|kee

v. phr. To avoid hunger, poverty, and/or creditors. "I don't like my job," Mike complained, "but I must do something to keep the wolves from the door."
Compare: KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER.

lone wolf|lone|wolf

n. A man who likes to work or live alone. The man who paints a picture or establishes a business is often a lone wolf; so is the criminal outlaw. Jones is a good pitcher, but he is a lone wolf.

throw one to the wolves|throw|wolf|wolves

v. phr. 1. To turn someone into a scapegoat. In order to explain the situation to the media, the governor blamed the mayor and threw him to the wolves. 2. To send into danger without protection. Mary was very shy. Her friends did not come to speak before the club in her place. They threw her to the wolves. The boys on the football team were so small that when they played a good team they were thrown to the wolves.

wolf in sheep's clothing|clothing|sheep|wolf

n. phr. A person who pretends to be good but really is bad. Mrs. Martin trusted the lawyer until she realized that he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. Mr. Black was fooled by the salesman's manners until he showed that he was really a wolf in sheep's clothing by selling Mr. Black a car that was falling apart.

lone wolf

lone wolf
A person who prefers to do without the company or assistance of others. For example, Her nursery school teacher described Beth as a lone wolf, an assessment her parents found astonishing. This expression alludes to the tendency of some species of wolf to hunt alone rather than in packs. [c. 1900]

wolf

wolf
In addition to the idiom beginning with wolf, also see cry wolf; keep the wolf from the door; lone wolf.

More Idioms/Phrases

without doubt witness wives wolf woman won't hear of won't wash wonder wonders will never cease woo

English Vocalbulary

aare aare river aarhus aaron aaron burr aaron copland aaron montgomery ward aaron's rod aarp aas ab ab initio aba aba cloth aba transit number abaca abaci abacinate