APAD: Velvet paws hide sharp claws.

Velvet paws hide sharp claws.

This proverb means that someone may appear gentle or harmless, but can still be dangerous or assertive.

 "Velvet paws hide sharp claws" is used to warn someone about underestimating others based on their appearance. It emphasizes the idea that someone may seem gentle or harmless, but can still be dangerous or assertive.  For example, if a friend is being too trusting of a new acquaintance, you might say, 'Remember, velvet paws hide sharp claws. Be cautious and don't let appearances deceive you.'

More examples:

1. Friendship

She may seem sweet and innocent, but velvet paws hide sharp claws. Don't underestimate her.

2. Dealing with people

Don't be fooled by his charming smile. Velvet paws hide sharp claws. He can be quite aggressive when he wants to be.

3. Animal behavior

The cat looked adorable, but when I tried to pet it, it scratched me. Velvet paws hide sharp claws.

 

所有跟帖： 

• Ahh, so true wrt people 1 doesn't know well. but I've yet 2 -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 10:15:51

• meet a cat who uses hiddenSharpClaws 2scratchMe. luckyMe :-) -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 10:20:39

• Is this true? -移花接木- ♂ (1203164 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 11:01:05

• maybe in general, but never happened 2Me :-) -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 11:02:55

• I meow 2 them 1st, & they respond & give me tummy 2 pet. -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 11:08:36

• will try to record next time and post :-) -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 11:11:00

• "an iron fist in a velvet glove" but paw&claw rhymes better -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 10:36:34

• feel iron fist more "neutral & gentle" than sharp claws ;-)) -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 10:45:48

• shades of meanings. -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 11:31:11

• even plaster in a glove enough to kill a boxer, it happened -移花接木- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 10:56:03

• in real life -移花接木- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 11:01:54

• That's imaginable. -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 11:31:43

• I thought both paws and claws mean 爪子. What‘s the difference -妖妖灵- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 13:34:41

• Paw指的是这个脚掌包括爪子，claw指具体的爪子部分。 -暖冬cool夏- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 14:26:43

• 是不是动物的paw对应着人的手，claw对应着人的指甲？：） -妖妖灵- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 14:35:28

• 是的是的，我那天读，不明白你的意思，现在明白了：） -暖冬cool夏- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/02/2025 postreply 18:55:51

• 相对于，palm=paw, nail=claw -暖冬cool夏- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/02/2025 postreply 18:56:43

• claw 对应指甲？ -移花接木- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 15:16:50

• 这有个彩蛋作业： -妖妖灵- ♀ (466 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 13:36:42

• lovely -移花接木- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 15:17:13

• A good one! Why both idioms like to use the word velvet? :) -暖冬cool夏- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 14:21:05

• I just learnt the word “velvet ”today：） -妖妖灵- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 14:37:42

• My take: 2 add contrast 2 the sharpness&Toughness of hidden -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 14:47:24

• 比如：（假装）天真无知 (== velvet paws) vs （掩藏）撒谎骗人(== sharp claws ：-） -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 14:59:47

• 谢谢！我的意思是为什么两个成语，一个用velvet paw,一个用velvet glove,巧合吗？：） -暖冬cool夏- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 20:50:10

• yes&no I think. Yes, both need contrast & velvet fitsTheBill -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 21:02:18

• The no part is that 我不认识两成语的作者，所以不知道是否巧合，对不起啦暖冬 ；-）） -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 21:04:34

• 我现在要去呼呼了，明天好早起去王府坐沙发！明天王府“见”哈！！ -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 21:09:07

• Haha, Good night! -暖冬cool夏- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/01/2025 postreply 22:13:45