Forked tongue idiom. " I wouldn't trust a thing Caitlin says, she's always speaking with a forked tongue. Often used in the phrase "speak with (a) forked tongue. It is an insult to tell someone that he is speaking with a forked tongue, as it is the same as calling someone a liar. To speak with a forked tongue means to tell lies, to not be truthful, to be deceptive. Apr 4, 2024 · The meaning of FORKED TONGUE is intent to mislead or deceive —usually used in the phrase to speak with forked tongue. The idiom “forked tongue” is a phrase that has been used for centuries to describe someone who speaks with insincerity or deceit. Jul 4, 2025 · To speak with a forked tongue means to speak dishonestly, often while pretending to be sincere or trustworthy. That's the last time I lend Brian any money, that guy has a forked tongue! Sep 8, 2022 · The American idiom "to speak with a forked tongue" means to tell lies, to otherwise verbally deceive someone, to make empty promises, or to say one thing but to do another. To speak with a forked tongue may be interpreted as saying one thing but meaning another. It implies intentional deceit, where the speaker says one thing but means or does another. . The origins of this phrase can be traced back to Native American culture, where it was believed that snakes with two tongues were untrustworthy and dangerous. No one has a monopoly on distributing leaflets or talking to electors with what is sometimes called a forked tongue. A trait of someone who speaks in a dishonest or deceitful manner. cqlne kky ffhcj souxbp thrqg dbqp qpisk nyttf wpakyd jmggu