silver tongue en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
- /ˌsɪlvəˈtʌŋ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˌsɪlvəɹˈtʌŋ/ (General-American)
Etymology
From silver (adjective, noun) + tongue (noun). Sense 1 (“trait of being articulate and clever at speaking”) is probably from silver-tongued, which is attested earlier than the noun.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) The trait of being articulate and clever at speaking, often in a deceitful way.
[H]e passed into the saloon, where Nina presided; and here his fair person and silver tongue […
1835, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], “The Festival”, in Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes. […], volume II, London: Saunders and Otley, […], →OCLC, book IV (The Triumph and the Pomp), pages 189–190:
- (US) The song sparrow (Melospiza melodia).
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| silver tongues | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| silver-tongue | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
Translations (8)
ru златоу́ст (trait of being articulate and clever at speaking) · fi sujuvapuheisuus (trait of being articulate and clever at speaking) · fi lipeväkielisyys (trait of being articulate and clever at speaking) · es labia (trait of being articulate and clever at speaking) · gl lingua de prata (trait of being articulate and clever at speaking) · es pico de oro (trait of being articulate and clever at speaking) · es verba (trait of being articulate and clever at speaking) · pt língua afiada (trait of being articulate and clever at speaking)