Speaking out of both sides of their mouth 🗣️👄👄
Meaning
To say contradictory things, often to deceive or to please different groups of people.
Origin
This phrase conjures an image of a creature with two mouths, each speaking a different message. While the exact origin is debated, it likely emerged from the literal and figurative idea of duplicity. Imagine a serpent, or perhaps a mythical beast, hissing one thing from its one jaw while simultaneously uttering another from its opposite. It paints a visceral picture of insincerity, of a person whose words are not unified but actively at war with themselves, designed to mislead whoever is listening. It’s a potent metaphor for hypocrisy, a vivid way to describe someone whose speech is fundamentally untrustworthy because it's inherently self-contradictory.
Speaking out of both sides of their mouth represented with emoji🗣️👄👄
This delightful 🗣️👄👄 plays with our perception of truth and deception, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat while simultaneously hiding it behind their back! It teaches the viewer not just the literal meaning, but the whimsical, sometimes contradictory, dance of words.
Examples
- The politician was accused of speaking out of both sides of his mouth when he promised tax cuts to one group and increased spending to another.
- When he told me he loved the plan but then complained about every detail, it was clear he was speaking out of both sides of his mouth.
- The baker insisted his cookies were the healthiest in town while secretly loading them with extra sugar, truly speaking out of both sides of his mouth.
- The chameleon, known for its vibrant color changes, also had a reputation for speaking out of both sides of its mouth, complimenting the shade of dawn and night equally.
Frequently asked questions
The closest common idiom for the opposite of speaking out of both sides of their mouth is 'telling it like it is'. This phrase implies honesty and directness, stating the truth without contradiction or trying to please multiple audiences.
Yes, speaking out of both sides of their mouth is a form of hypocrisy. It describes someone who claims to hold certain beliefs or values but acts in a way that contradicts them, or says things that are contrary to each other to achieve different goals.
'Speaking out of both sides of their mouth' is considered an idiom. Idioms are phrases where the meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meaning of the words, unlike proverbs which often offer advice or a general truth.
The exact origin of 'speaking out of both sides of their mouth' is debated, but it likely emerged from the concept of duplicity and the visual imagery of a creature with two mouths saying different things. This vivid metaphor has long been used to describe insincerity and untrustworthy speech.