fear
fear fear the Greeks bearing gifts a warning against someone who apparently wishes you well. The saying (often used allusively) is recorded from late 19th century; originally from Virgil, ‘timeo Danaos, et dona ferentes [I fear the Greeks, even when bringing gifts]’ as Laocoon's words of warning to the Trojans about the Trojan Horse (in which the Greek warriors were concealed). Samuel Johnson quoted the Latin in a letter of 3 May 1777, in which he said, ‘Tell Mrs. Boswell that I shall taste her marmalade cautiously at first. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.’
see also do right and fear no man, fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
see also do right and fear no man, fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
More From encyclopedia.com
NEARBY TERMS
fear
