Chhupa Rustam 2001
Lutero Chaloux
I'm looking for English word[s] that come close to छुप रुस्तम (chupa rustam), literally "hidden warrior". It's attributed to a person who is very clever but does not appear so. If I remember correctly, it's not used for deceitful nature.
Perhaps the easiest phrase, though, is the simple "wise fool" that I have heard several times. Although it is referred to often as the literal translation of "sophomore", when used in a non-translating context it usually implies the fool who is wiser than he seems.
It sounds like the slang term sleeper, but that word has deceitful connotations. It means an outwardly normal-looking person or thing that possesses remarkable qualities. The implication is that maintaining a normal appearance was deliberate, and perhaps even difficult, such as when a vehicle is given a much larger engine than it was designed for. It's a sleeper only if you can't detect the modifications at a glance. It can also refer to a person who is very attractive when they want to be, but can also make themselves unattractive to avoid attention.
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