double-faced

English

Adjective

double-faced (not comparable)

1. Having two functional faces.

   a double-faced hammer

2. deceitful; hypocritical; treacherous
   • 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:

     Fame , if not double-faced , is double-mouthed ,
     And with contrary blast proclaims most deed

   Synonym: two-faced

Related terms

• two-faced
• Janus-faced

Translations

hypocritical; treacherous

• Bulgarian: двуличен (bg) (dvuličen), лицемерен (bg) (licemeren)
• Finnish: kaksinaamainen (fi), petollinen (fi), kavala (fi)
• Turkish: ikiyüzlü (tr)

See also

• speak with a forked tongue

References

• “double-faced”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.