The phrase “to keep the wolves at bay” refers to a time when baying wolves were a sign that wolves were still in the distance. The idea is that when wolves are still in pursuit, they are not yet ready to attack. Sometimes shorted to keeping something “at bay,” this also refers to hunting dogs that…
Tag: wolves
Exploring wolf references: “Lone Wolf”
Lone wolf is an American expression that began in the early 1900s. A “lone wolf” is a person who acts alone or enjoys his or her own company—and not being part of the pack. The phrase persists in popular culture today. Lone Wolf is the title of a 1988 horror film, and Lone Wolf McQuade…
Exploring wolf references: “Cry wolf”
Over the last few weeks, I’ve started exploring common phrases that reference wolves. (Links to previous ones are below.) This week I am exploring the phrase “Cry wolf.” The phrase, which means to cause undue alarm, is derived from the Aesop fable, The boy who cried wolf, in which a lonely young herded cries wolf…
Exploring wolf references: “Keep the wolf from the door”
The phrase “keep the wolf from the door” means to avoid poverty or starvation. The phrase may have been inspired by the story the Three Little Pigs (1933 animated version) but is of uncertain origin. The phrase also inspired the title of the first novel in The Runes Trilogy, The Wolf at His Door (now…
Exploring wolf references: “Wolf in sheep’s clothing”
The idiom “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” has Biblical origins. Ancient Greek fables offer warnings similar to those offered in the Bible. Today, the phrase serves as a warning against anyone with a friendly face and malicious intent. The phrase remains popular. In fact, it has its own Tumblr page. Apparently, the phrase is a popular…
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