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.

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.

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.
See also:
  • have a forked tongue
  • speak with forked tongue
  • with (a) forked tongue
  • with forked tongue
  • bluff
  • bluff (one's) way
  • bluff way
  • bosom
  • lie (one's) way into (something or some place)
  • lied
References in periodicals archive
Their leaders speak with a forked tongue, saying one thing and meaning another,' he said.
Opposition leaders speak with forked tongue on M'sia-China relations
You speak with a forked tongue, Roxas said, calling Duterte out for the mayor's conflicting statements about the bank accounts.
With $10 deposit, Roxas camp proves Duterte's dollar account
We all know that many politicians speak with a forked tongue and as a scientist I regret to say not all scientists are reliable.
Inshort
In the longstanding tradition of many Native American tribes, 'speaking with a forked tongue' has meant lying, and a person was no longer considered worthy of trust, once he had been shown to 'speak with a forked tongue'.
US Veto: Speaking with Forked Tongue
You speak with a forked tongue, Roxas said, taking Duterte to task for the mayor's conflicting statements about the bank accounts.
Roxas camp proves Duterte's dollar account by depositing $10