beware of Greeks bearing gifts
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
One should not trust one's enemies.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “beware of Greeks bearing gifts” mean?
One should not trust one's enemies.
Is “beware of Greeks bearing gifts” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.