ENGLISH
REFERENCE

forked tongue

idiom
Meaning

The characteristic of deceptiveness; duplicity; untruthfulness.


Examples
SIMPLE

Do not trust him, he speaks with a forked tongue.

CONTEXTUAL

The politician promised lower taxes to everyone, but his opponents claimed he was speaking with a forked tongue.

COMPLEX

Despite his charming demeanor and eloquent speeches, the diplomat was known to speak with a forked tongue, often saying one thing to his allies and another to his enemies.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bite one's tongue

    To resist the urge to speak out, especially in order to avoid saying something inappropriate or likely to cause a dispute.

  2. 02

    cat got someone's tongue

    Why is someone not saying anything?

  3. 03

    civil tongue

    A polite manner of speaking.

  4. 04

    find one's tongue

    To speak after being unable to do so or after remaining silent; to find something to say.

  5. 05

    hold one's tongue

    To refrain from talking about something.

  6. 06

    keep a civil tongue in one's head

    To maintain a polite manner of speaking.

  7. 07

    lay one's tongue to

    To say; to name; to think of to say.

  8. 08

    loose tongue

    The act or habit of excessively speaking or discussing subjects that are private or confidential.

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