bantay-salakay
bantay-salakáy with stress marks
untrustworthy person
Usage Note
Bantay-salakay literally means 'guard-attacker' and is an idiomatic expression for someone who is supposed to protect but instead exploits or betrays those under their care — a wolf in sheep's clothing. It is used in discussions of corruption, abuse of authority, and betrayal of trust, and frequently appears in Philippine political commentary.
Examples
" Bantay-salakay pala siya. "
Natural Translation
It turns out he/she is untrustworthy.
Literal Translation
Untrustworthy-person it-turns-out he/she.
" Mahirap magtiwala sa bantay-salakay. "
Natural Translation
It is hard to trust an untrustworthy person.
Literal Translation
Hard to-trust in untrustworthy-person.
" Nahuli sa wakas ang bantay-salakay na opisyal na nagnanakaw mismo sa pondong dapat niyang pangalagaan. "
Natural Translation
The untrustworthy official who was stealing from the very fund he was supposed to protect was finally caught.
Literal Translation
Caught at last the untrustworthy-person official that stealing exactly from-the fund that should by-him protect.
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