wolf

  • noun (pl. wolves) 1 a carnivorous mammal that lives and hunts in packs and is the largest member of the dog family. 2 informal a man who habitually seduces women.

  • verb (usu. wolf down) devour (food) greedily.

  — PHRASES cry wolf raise repeated false alarms, so that a real cry for help is ignored. with allusion to the fable of the shepherd boy who deluded people with false cries of ‘Wolf!’ keep the wolf from the door have enough money to be able to buy food. throw someone to the wolves sacrifice someone in order to avoid trouble for oneself. a wolf in sheep’s clothing a person who appears friendly but is really hostile. with biblical allusion to the Book of Matthew, chapter 7.

  — DERIVATIVES wolfish adjective.

  — ORIGIN Old English.

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