speak with a forked tongue
To speak deceptively; to be duplicitous or untruthful.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Do not trust him, he speaks with a forked tongue.”
“You speak with a forked tongue when you lie to your friends.”
“Be careful because dishonest people often speak with a forked tongue.”
“The politician promised lower taxes, but his recent actions suggest he speaks with a forked tongue.”
“The salesman spoke with a forked tongue when he told me the car was in perfect condition despite the engine problems.”
“My manager speaks with a forked tongue by praising my work in person but criticizing me during meetings with the director.”
“Despite his charming demeanor, the diplomat was known to speak with a forked tongue, often promising peace while secretly arming the opposition.”
disputed origin
Possibly from the split tongue of a snake, an anatomical feature associated with the capacity to project two different messages. The phrase remains of uncertain origin, resting upon the observation that a serpent possesses a bifurcated organ which suggests, by way of simple biological metaphor, the act of saying one thing while simultaneously meaning another.
- 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.
- 02
cat got someone's tongue
Why is someone not saying anything?
- 03
civil tongue
A polite manner of speaking.
- 04
dukes
[Cockney slang]fork, i.e. hand, now chiefly when balled into a fist
- 05
find one's tongue
To speak after being unable to do so or after remaining silent; to find something to say.
- 06
fork off
to diverge into two or more separate paths.
- 07
fork over
To pay, give up or hand over a large amount of money.
- 08
forked tongue
The characteristic of deceptiveness; duplicity; untruthfulness.
Last updated August 10, 2026