fifth column
a group of traitors (Verräter) acting in sympathy with the enemy
TRANSLATION
Verräter
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
"I wonder what future generations may say about our obsessions with alien abductions, astrology, 'X-Files' Web sites, black helicopters and interplanetary fifth columns in league with the CIA."
(John McDonough in The Wall Street Journal, Oct 31, 2000)
(John McDonough in The Wall Street Journal, Oct 31, 2000)
Did you
know?
fifth column
This phrase comes from the Spanish quinta columna, from the column of supporters that General Mola claimed to have in Madrid while he was leading four columns of his army to invade the city during the Spanish Civil War.
Synonyms:
apostate, back-stabber, backslider, betrayer, conspirator, deceiver, defector, deserter, double-crosser, fifth columnist, fink, hypocrite, imposter, informer, intriguer, Judas, miscreant, plotter, quisling, rat, rat fink, rebel, renegade, snake, sneak, snitch, snitcher, spy, squealer, stool pigeon, stoolie, tattletale, treasonist, turncoat, two-timer,
This phrase comes from the Spanish quinta columna, from the column of supporters that General Mola claimed to have in Madrid while he was leading four columns of his army to invade the city during the Spanish Civil War.
Synonyms:
apostate, back-stabber, backslider, betrayer, conspirator, deceiver, defector, deserter, double-crosser, fifth columnist, fink, hypocrite, imposter, informer, intriguer, Judas, miscreant, plotter, quisling, rat, rat fink, rebel, renegade, snake, sneak, snitch, snitcher, spy, squealer, stool pigeon, stoolie, tattletale, treasonist, turncoat, two-timer,
