2. A pig in a poke. This is a symbol of deception or a hidden trap. It comes from the old practice of selling pigs in sacks without letting the buyer see them first. If the buyer got home and found that the pig was sick or dying, they were out of luck.
3. A red herring. This is a symbol of a misleading clue or false trail. It comes from the practice of dragging a red herring across a path to throw hunting dogs off the scent.
4. A white elephant. This is a symbol of a useless or burdensome possession. It comes from the story of the King of Siam, who would give white elephants to people he didn't like. The elephants were considered sacred, so the recipients couldn't sell them or get rid of them, and they were very expensive to keep.
5. A wolf in sheep's clothing. This is a symbol of a person who is pretending to be something they're not. It comes from the Bible story of the wolf who disguises himself as a sheep in order to get close to the flock.