"Snake and rat in the same nest" literally means a snake and a rat sharing the same burrow, and metaphorically describes bad people colluding, acting in cahoots, and doing evil together. This idiom carries a strongly derogatory connotation and is often used to expose gang corruption, organized crime, or interest groups. Its cultural background stems from people's negative impressions of snakes and rats: snakes are sinister and vicious, while rats are thieving and cunning; the two living in the same nest suggests that bad people gather together and shield one another. It is mostly used in news commentary, social criticism, or literary works to describe collusion between officials and businesspeople, the police and criminals being in league, or corruption cases involving a whole network. Emotionally, it expresses disgust, sarcasm, and criticism. For example, when a group of officials and unscrupulous businessmen join forces to seek profits, they can be said to be "snake and rat in the same nest." The idiom comes from the late Qing novel Strange Events Eyewitnessed over Two Decades, reflecting the dark side of society at that time.
📝 Example
1. This criminal gang was in cahoots with local underworld forces, oppressing the people for a long time, and was eventually rounded up by the police in one sweep. (A metaphor for bad people colluding with each other to do evil.)
2. Those corrupt officials and unscrupulous businessmen were in cahoots, working together to embezzle state property, which is truly infuriating. (Describes corrupt elements colluding with profiteers, acting in collusion like jackals.)