speak with 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 a 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
Methinks that most politicians speak with forked tongue, are self-serving, who truly believe in the diatribe they impart to us, and yes I do know what Brexit means and the backstop!
VAR panel has purpose
Those who try to trivialise the issue and muddy the waters with their inane talk of colour and free trade remind me of those cowboy and indian films many moons ago and the retort: "White man speak with forked tongue!" How outrageous when a person of the calibre of Mr Blair declares: "The national humiliation is we think the colour of our passports defines our sense of nationhood." Does this "weapons of mass destruction" silly man not recognise the intellectual vacuity of his insulting words?
Stand up for Britain in passport outrage
Yes, the Prime Minister the 'speak with forked tongue' politician who tried unsuccessfully to persuade voters within the UK to remain in the EU but failed.
June 23 will go down in history
On the Greek bond front, it was kind of natural for the Cypriots to have large G-bond exposures, given their close historical and cultural ties to Greece, and given that Eurozone leaders were saying in the run up to the problems in Greece that no Eurozone country would default/restructure - kind of no longer worth reading Eurozone leaders lips, more like "they speak with forked tongue" after the latest Cypriot deposit gaffe.
Cyprus: Hoping for Good Outcome in Moscow -Finance Minister Says
"At the moment, we politicians speak with forked tongue to the police.
They say
Now, far be it for me to speak with forked tongue, but if anyone deserves a retirement it's Walter and he really should walk off at the end of the current campaign and spend more time with his family.
Hand Walter top SFA job now before Ethel gives him the hoover
They speak with forked tongue, or, in the case of Wirral, (Steve) Foulkes tongue.
Spending the cash; IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER
A SALESMAN speak with forked tongue. Lpg isn't being withdrawn, although Gordon Brown may raise the duty.
MOTORS: HELP! You ask me
The RFU speak with forked tongue; they don't want to know our league.
Rugby Union: New stars in sky give tradition a shake-up
For once in its life, Hollywood does not speak with forked tongue. Since the dreadful events of September 11, we are, all of us, afraid.
We know where to find true courage
They speak with forked tongue. They want to be ruled by the German common market.'
Vote for me and bury the Assembly
Chief O'Leary speak with forked tongue.You can only get so far in life being all things to all men; offering one excuse to one group of critics, and a different one to others.
Brian Reade Column: Knives out for the man with the forked tongue
Fashion editors don't speak with forked tongue when they say that a touch of snakeskin can add more than a dash of animal magnetism to your life.
Aspects: Slink a little in sexy snakeskin; A smattering of snakeskin can go a long way so be careful not to over do it, says Fashion Editor Carole Ann Rice
Him speak with forked tongue. - Alexander Douglas, Tullibody, Clackmannanshire.
VOICE OF SCOTLAND; Hard Labour
Let's be perfectly clear on this and I will say with pinpoint accuracy and a roaming commission with the English language, Brown Man no speak with forked tongue.
IT'S PAOLO OVER BAR THE BLUFFING