κ1407Κερκωπίζειν
to play the ape
The proverbial saying is a metaphor from animals that wag their tail [kerkos] towards one. But [it would be] more sound to derive it from the Kerkopes, which the story goes are very deceitful and disgusting creatures…
Κερκωπίζειν· ἡ παροιμία ἀπὸ τῶν προσσαινόντων τῇ κέρκῳ ζῴων μετήνεγκται. ἄμεινον δὲ λέγειν αὐτὴν ἀπὸ Κερκώπων, οὓς περὶ τὴν Λυδίαν ἱστοροῦσιν ἀπατηλοὺς σφόδρα καὶ ἀηδεῖς γενέσθαι.