scratch a liberal and you'll find a fascist
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
People who identify as liberals (usually rather than leftists) are not uncomfortable with fascist beliefs.
Register: derogatory
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Scratch a liberal and you'll find a fascist, they say - this book does just that, not only with the author but with the Rt. Hon. Joe Grimond M.P. who provided the introduction to the book.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “scratch a liberal and you'll find a fascist” mean?
People who identify as liberals (usually rather than leftists) are not uncomfortable with fascist beliefs.
Is “scratch a liberal and you'll find a fascist” formal or informal?
scratch a liberal and you'll find a fascist is generally derogatory.