speak with a forked tongue

speak with a forked tongue

To make empty or false promises; to speak duplicitously or beguilingly. Likened to having the tongue of a serpent, a traditional symbol of deceit and dishonesty. It's becoming increasingly obvious that the senator spoke with a forked tongue during his campaign. He learned quickly that speaking with a forked tongue was an effective way of getting ahead in business.

See also: forked, speak, tongue

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

speak with a forked tongue

Fig. to tell lies; to try to deceive someone. Jean's mother sounds very charming, but she speaks with a forked tongue. People tend to believe Fred because he seems plausible, but we know he speaks with a forked tongue.

See also: forked, speak, tongue

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

speak with forked tongue

or

speak with a forked tongue

If someone speaks with forked tongue or speaks with a forked tongue, they are lying or trying to trick people. He speaks with forked tongue. I don't trust him and I don't like him. This shows that the minister has been speaking with a forked tongue. Note: People sometimes use talk instead of speak. Everybody in this business is talking with forked tongue.

See also: forked, speak, tongue

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012