The phrase ‘crazy like a fox’ is an idiomatic expression used to describe someone who may appear to be foolish or eccentric but is actually very clever and shrewd. It’s a playful way of saying that the person’s apparent craziness is a disguise for their intelligence or cunning.
For example, if someone seems to be acting unpredictably or rashly, but then they manage to achieve a surprising success, you might say they were ‘crazy like a fox.’ It’s often used to highlight the irony of a situation where someone’s unconventional behavior leads to a favorable outcome.
In essence, this phrase serves as a reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that sometimes what seems irrational might actually have a strategic purpose behind it.