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volpone

cunning fox, sly person

noun vohl-POH-neh Rare

Origin: Augmentative of volpe (fox), from Latin vulpes.

Usage Note

Volpone literally means 'big fox' (augmentative of volpe) but is almost always used figuratively for a shrewd, cunning person — closer to 'old fox' or 'sly dog' in English. In Italian it carries a mix of admiration and wariness.

Examples

"Quell'avvocato è un vecchio volpone."

Natural Translation

That lawyer is an old fox.

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