serpent's tongue

serpent's tongue

1. A tendency to speak maliciously. A: "He has such a serpent's tongue that I hate to be around him." B: "Of course you do—who wants to be verbally attacked all the time?"
2. A nickname for a fossilized shark's tooth. I think they call a shark's tooth a serpent's tongue because of how the root is forked.
See also: tongue
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • have a sharp tongue
  • wicked tongue
  • speak daggers
  • give tongue
  • hold one's tongue, to
  • bite (one's) tongue
  • bite one's tongue
  • bite tongue
  • bite your tongue
  • rip on someone
References in periodicals archive
"He got drunk, stood up and said, 'How sharper than a serpent's tongue it is to have a thankless child.' "He had a big booming voice and people in the bar thought it was a Shakespearean performance.
Dark side of the Dark Knight; EXCLUSIVE Childhood demons that cause Batman star's X-rated rages
With her chirpy, conversational delivery bouncing along a cheery mix of gurgling synthesizers and dub reggae grooves, Allen reveals a serpent's tongue, salt-on-the-wound lyrics and a vindictive streak that seems to contradict the pop-friendly melody and perky voice.
Bouncy tunes belie cheekiness
MW works fantastically and is sharper than a serpent's tongue. While Cornwall-based soap EB is a bit like a cake mix - tantalising but not fully baked.
Double trouble as soap won't wash