gespaltene Zunge

English translation: to speak with forked tongue

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:gespaltene Zunge
English translation:to speak with forked tongue
Entered by: Eszter Bokor

08:27 Oct 13, 2006
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
German term or phrase: gespaltene Zunge
"Mit gespaltener Zunge sprechen" - In Romanen wird dies den "Indianern" in den Mund gelegt, angeblich haben sie so usgedrückt, dass jemand lügt.
Eszter Bokor
Austria
Local time: 17:39
to speak with forked tongue
Explanation:
= making false promises or speaking in a manner that hides the real motivation.
Selected response from:

earthreptile
Local time: 16:39
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6(to talk with) forked tongue
CMJ_Trans (X)
4 +5to speak with forked tongue
earthreptile
4forked tongue
rainerc (X)
3to speak out of two sides of your mouth
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
2forked tongue
Erik Freitag


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
(to talk with) forked tongue


Explanation:
check any good dictionary

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 17:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Henry Schroeder
11 mins

agree  Thomas Bollmann
14 mins

agree  Steffen Walter
16 mins

agree  Kathi Stock
1 hr

agree  Frosty
3 hrs

agree  Rebecca Garber
5 hrs
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2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
forked tongue


Explanation:
:-)

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Note added at 4 mins (2006-10-13 08:31:13 GMT)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forked_tongue

rainerc (X)
Local time: 17:39
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
forked tongue


Explanation:
I believe this is the expression.

Erik Freitag
Germany
Local time: 17:39
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 12
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
to speak with forked tongue


Explanation:
= making false promises or speaking in a manner that hides the real motivation.

earthreptile
Local time: 16:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DC Josephs: "white man speak with forked tongue" - classic B-movie cliche. s.a. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forked_tongue
1 hr

agree  franglish
1 hr

agree  Ulrike Kraemer
3 hrs

agree  jccantrell: with DC on this one.
5 hrs

agree  Diana Loos
6 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
to speak out of two sides of your mouth


Explanation:
another option

Ingeborg Gowans (X)
Canada
Local time: 12:39
Works in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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