fox in the henhouse
A sneaky threat let into a place they can wreck.
Also called fox in the hen house, fox guarding the henhouse.
Updated September 21, 2026
fox in the henhouse pronunciation
/FAWKS in thuh HEN-hows/
Meaning
Picture a fox already inside with the chickens. Somebody you should not trust has gotten access, a job, or a seat at the table where they can do real damage. Close cousin is "fox guarding the henhouse," which puts that same predator in charge of the flock. On a farm it is literal danger. In town talk it is a warning about the wrong person getting the keys.
How folks use it
- “Putting that boy in charge of the cash drawer is a fox in the henhouse.”
- “Once he joined the committee, it was a fox in the henhouse from day one.”
Origin and etymology
Farm sense first: foxes raid henhouses. English writers used the picture by the late 1500s ("a foxe to looke to the hennes"). American rural speech, including the South and Appalachia, kept the image sharp because plenty of folks still knew what a raid on the coop looked like. The figurative use for a traitor or insider threat spread nationwide from that farm talk.
Frequently asked questions
Is fox in the henhouse the same as fox guarding the henhouse?
Close. One says the predator is already inside. The other says you put the predator in charge. Both mean trouble.