to show the cloven foot
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To betray an evil intention. The devil is represented with a cloven hoof.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to show the cloven foot” mean?
To betray an evil intention. The devil is represented with a cloven hoof.
Is “to show the cloven foot” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.