General
crooked as a barrel of snakes
What does crooked as a barrel of snakes mean?
Describes someone thoroughly untrustworthy.
"That salesman's crooked as a barrel of snakes."
Origin
Southern hyperbolic simile; a barrel full of writhing snakes is the picture of crookedness.
Frequently asked questions
What does "crooked as a barrel of snakes" mean?
It means someone is deeply dishonest and not to be trusted.
Where does "crooked as a barrel of snakes" come from?
It's a Southern hyperbolic simile — a barrel full of writhing snakes gives a vivid image of total crookedness.
How do you use it?
You apply it to a shady or untrustworthy person, as in "That salesman's crooked as a barrel of snakes."
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