Algeria· hard· informal
manger avec le loup et pleurer avec le berger
“to eat with the wolf and cry with the shepherd”
No Algeria voice yet, so this is read in French.
Meaning
to pretend loyalty to whichever side suits you
Explanation
Said of someone who plays both sides of a conflict, showing loyalty to whichever party suits the moment.
Example
Il a soutenu les deux candidats en secret ; il mange avec le loup et pleure avec le berger.
He secretly backed both candidates; he's playing both sides.
Origin
Thought to be a calque from Algerian Arabic, itself borrowed from Berber. It pictures someone dining with the wolf one moment and mourning with the shepherd whose flock the wolf just raided the next.
Source
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