forked tongue

English

Etymology

• Possibly from the split tongue of a snake.

Noun

forked tongue (plural forked tongues)

1. (idiomatic) The characteristic of deceptiveness; duplicity; untruthfulness.
   • 2008, Kavi Chongkittavorn, "OPINION: Regional Perspective," The Nation (Bangkok, Thailand), 10 Mar. (retrieved 26 Mar., 2008)

     This man has a forked tongue and lacks credibility.

Related terms

• speak with a forked tongue