forked tongue
Liar's symbolic appendage
A forked tongue, like a snake's, represents deceptive or duplicitous speech.
The phrase appears most often in speak with a forked tongue, meaning to say one thing while meaning or doing another.
The expression derives from the association of serpents with cunning and treachery, reinforced by depictions of the devil as snake-tongued.
Deliberate misleading behavior
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- liesDeliberate untruths
- betrayalBreaking of trust
treachery · double-dealing · insincerity · manipulation · guile · cunning · slyness · dissembling
duplicity
Deliberate misleading behavior
betrayal · treachery · double-dealing · insincerity · manipulation · guile · cunning · slyness · dissembling · false promises
- reptile traitsscaly, cold-blooded, slithering, shedding skin, venomous
- animal featuresbeaks, scales, antlers, fur, ears
- creature partsdragon scales, dragon wings, mermaid tail, unicorn horn, vampire fangs
- creature traitsclaws, fangs, horns, scales, talons
- fantasy traitsglowing eyes, immortality, invisibility, ethereal glow, telepathy
- tonguetip, root, blade, dorsum, frenulum
forked tonguehonest
Free from deception
truthful · sincere · candid · honest broker · genuine
forked tonguestraight talker
One who communicates directly
consistent · reliable · dependable · true to one's word · what you see is what you get
forked tonguestraight talk
Honest, direct communication
straight from the shoulder · no-nonsense · blunt · frank · direct
fork, tongue, forked, tongues, tongue-tied, forking, tongued, tonguing, tongueless