Greek gift

Greek gift
   a present with dire consequences
   A throwback to the Trojan Horse and Virgil's timeo Daneos et dona ferentes:
    The control France was granted [by Hitler] over her navy also proved a Greek gift. (Ousby, 1997 — on 2 and 6 July 1940 Churchill convinced the world that Britain would not surrender by ordering the destruction of major elements of the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir after it had refused to continue the fight against Germany or take refuge in a neutral port)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • greek gift — noun Usage: usually capitalized G Etymology: so called from the story of the Trojan horse more at trojan horse : a gift given or a favor done with a treacherous purpose * * * Greek gift noun A treacherous gift (from Virgil s Aeneid 2.49) • • •… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Greek gift sacrifice — In chess, the Greek gift sacrifice or classical bishop sacrifice is a typical sacrifice of a bishop by White playing Bxh7+ or Black playing Bxh2+. a b c …   Wikipedia

  • Greek — {{11}}Greek (adj.) late 14c., from GREEK (Cf. Greek) (n.). Earlier Gregeis (c.1300), from O.Fr. Gregois; also Greekish (O.E. Grecisc). In venery, anal, by 1970. Greek gift is from Æneid, II.49: timeo Danaos et dona ferentes. {{12}}Greek (n.) O.E …   Etymology dictionary

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