sow dragon's teeth



sow dragon's teeth

To do something that inadvertently leads to trouble. The phrase refers to Cadmus, a figure in Greek mythology who killed a dragon and, on instructions from Athena, sowed (planted) its teeth. The soldiers that grew from the teeth fought each other until only a few remained. A: "Why did you invite Joe, my sworn enemy, to this party?" B: "Listen, if I had known that I would be sowing dragon's teeth by inviting Joe, I never would have done it!" I guess I sowed dragon's teeth when I complained about my neighbors being too loud because now they won't talk to me.
See also: sow, teeth

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Rosangelaro-zahn-JE-lahItalian
Ean-Manx
Nathaliena-ta-LEE (French), NAH-tah-lee (German)French, German
Alsopp['ɔ:lsɔp]
Barak (1)BER-ək (English), BAR-ək (English)Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew
Aggis['ægis]