a false friend is worse than an open enemy

a false friend is worse than an open enemy

proverb Trusting someone who is, in fact, duplicitous or disingenuous is worse than knowing outright of someone's enmity. A: "I don't know why, but Tiffany clearly hates me." B: "Cheer up, man—a false friend is worse than an open enemy." I can't believe I trusted that guy. Dang, a false friend sure is worse than an open enemy.
See also: enemy, false, friend, open, worse
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • false friends are worse than open enemies
  • a false friend and a shadow stay only while the sun shines
  • teach a man to fish
  • better bend than break
  • it takes a village
  • village
  • a trouble shared is a trouble halved
  • a burnt child dreads the fire
  • bad workers always blame their tools
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men