E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Chameleon.
You are a chameleon, i.e. very changeable—shifting according to the opinions of others, as the chameleon changes its hue to that of contiguous objects.
1
“As the chameleon, who is known
To have no colours of its own,
But borrows from his neighbour’s hue,
His white or black, his green or blue.”
Prior.
Pliny tells us that Democrtus wrote a book on superstitions connected with the chameleon.
2
C’est un cameleon. One who shifts his opinions according to circumstances; a vicar of Bray.
3
To chameleonise is to change one’s opinions as a chameleon changes its colour.
Pliny tells us that Democr
tus wrote a book on superstitions connected with the chameleon.
