a needle hidden in silk floss— a ruthless character behind a gentle appearance; an iron hand in a velvet glove
❍ 此人老奸巨猾，～。This man was a crafty old scoundrel and had a ruthless character behind a gentle appearance.
绵里藏针
needle hidden in silk floss—gentle but firm; tough despite superficial softness;iron hand in a velvet glove
绵里藏针mián lǐ cánɡ zhēn
棉絮里藏着针。比喻柔中有刚。an iron hand in a velvet glove, a ruthless character behind a gentle appearance