A snake in the grass

Question

A snake in the grass

1. A. Secret of hidden enemy
2. B. Unforgotten happening
3. C. Unrecognizable danger (Correct answer)
4. D. Unreliable person

Correct Answer

Option C — Unrecognizable danger

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Unrecognizable danger.

Key Points

• "A snake in the grass" is an idiom meaning an unrecognised or hidden danger — a threat that lurks unseen.
• It does not mean a secret enemy or unreliable person specifically.

Additional Information

• *A snake in the grass* is a hidden danger or a treacherous person who appears friendly — the emphasis is on concealment, not open hostility.
• The phrase comes from Virgil's *latet anguis in herba*, 'a snake lurks in the grass'.
• Related idioms worth carrying into the exam: *a wolf in sheep's clothing* (a disguised enemy), *to smell a rat* (to suspect deceit) and *to let the cat out of the bag* (to reveal a secret).
• Idioms are tested for their figurative meaning; the literal reading is always among the distractors.