Translation guide
The animal wolf is 狼 (おおかみ). Figurative uses like 'lone wolf' or 'wolf in sheep's clothing' have natural Japanese equivalents, but some English idioms do not translate directly.
Referring to the animal Canis lupus.
Standard word for wolf. Used in all contexts.
I saw a wolf in the forest.
Describing someone who acts independently or avoids groups.
Literally 'one wolf'. Natural equivalent of 'lone wolf'. Often used for someone who works alone or doesn't join groups.
He's a lone wolf and isn't good at working in a team.
Describing a dangerous person who pretends to be harmless.
Direct equivalent of the idiom. Commonly understood.
That person is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Raising a false alarm, leading others to ignore real danger.
From Aesop's fable 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'. Recognizable but not a common everyday idiom. More often explained than used idiomatically.
If you keep crying wolf, no one will believe you.
To convey the meaning without the fable reference, describe the action: 'repeatedly give false warnings'.
Eating food very quickly and greedily.
A whistle of admiration, often directed at an attractive person.
Simply 'to whistle'. Add context like 'at a woman' to clarify. No specific wolf whistle phrase.
The man wolf-whistled at the woman.
Have enough money to avoid hunger or poverty.
Means 'stave off hunger'. No wolf imagery. Natural for describing barely managing to survive.
That money kept the wolf from the door.
Many English idioms with 'wolf' do not use 狼 in Japanese. For example, 'wolf down' is がつがつ食べる, not 狼のように食べる (which sounds unnatural). Always check if a natural Japanese equivalent exists.
If you keep giving false warnings, no one will help when real danger comes.
He devoured it like a wolf.