I am disappointed to learn that I am so naïve and take people at face value. If someone in an interview situation says ‘let’s try you for a month’ I believe I have the job, or the project or the assignment – call it what you will – at least for the term of a month. Dismissed with publications as my brief to see if I could make them more appealing, the decision was mine to make. Or so I thought.

Turns out I was wrong and stupidly fell for a corporate lie. She was “speaking with a forked tongue,” spinning a big fat – I’m-done-with-this-interview lie.

When someone speaks with forked tongue they’re not offering culinary advice—they’re simply telling big fat whoppers. To “speak with a forked tongue” means to say one thing while meaning another—essentially, to lie or mislead. It’s a metaphor for duplicity, often used to describe politicians, salespeople, or anyone whose words don’t match their actions.

This  idiom has roots in both natural history and cultural history, and it’s still a sharp way to call out deception today.

From Snakes to Settlers

The phrase “speak with a forked tongue” likely originates from the forked tongues of snakes, which are often associated with deceit and trickery in various cultures. In the 19th century, Native Americans used the expression to describe deceptive behaviour among European settlers, particularly in reference to broken treaties and false promises. Over time, the idiom found its way into broader American culture, where it continues to be used today.

The Village Idiom

In literature, the metaphor appears as early as the 1600s. For example, in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Satan’s deceitful speech is described as “forked tongue.”

In Pop Culture

This idiom has slithered its way into movies, cartoons, and satire. Characters with snake-like traits or actual forked tongues are often depicted as untrustworthy. For instance, in Jurassic Park, the Velociraptors’ flicking tongues suggest their cunning nature. Political cartoons frequently use the image of a politician with a literal forked tongue to critique dishonesty.

I feel stupid for building up high levels of excitement and at least 30 ideas to improve the magazines, when it was really just said on a whim – and the truth is ‘they are interviewing other people’.

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Cat got your tongue? Origin of idioms

How sticking to your knitting will get you stuck: idiom usage