talk out of both sides of one's mouth

noun, plural mouths [mouthz] /maʊðz/.

1. Anatomy, Zoology.
   1. the opening through which an animal or human takes in food.
   2. the cavity containing the structures used in mastication.
   3. the structures enclosing or being within this cavity, considered as a whole.
2. the masticating and tasting apparatus.
3. a person or animal dependent on someone for sustenance: another mouth to feed.
4. the oral opening or cavity considered as the source of vocal utterance.
5. utterance or expression: to give mouth to one’s thoughts.
6. talk, especially loud, empty, or boastful talk: That man is all mouth.
7. disrespectful talk or language; back talk; impudence.
8. a grimace made with the lips.
9. an opening leading out of or into any cavity or hollow place or thing: the mouth of a cave; a bottle’s mouth.
10. the outfall at the lower end of a river or stream, where flowing water is discharged, as into a lake, sea, or ocean: the mouth of the Nile.
11. the opening between the jaws of a vise or the like.
12. the lateral hole of an organ pipe.
13. the lateral blowhole of a flute.

verb (used with object)

14. to utter in a sonorous or pompous manner, or with excessive mouth movements: to mouth a speech.
15. to form (a word, sound, etc.) with the lips without actually making an utterance: She silently mouthed her answer so as not to wake her napping child.
16. to utter or pronounce softly and indistinctly; mumble: Stop mouthing your words and speak up.
17. to put or take into the mouth, as food.
18. to press, rub, or chew at with the mouth or lips: The dog mouthed the toys.
19. to accustom (a horse) to the use of the bit and bridle.

verb (used without object)

20. to speak sonorously and oratorically, or with excessive mouth movement.
21. to grimace with the lips.

Verb Phrases

22. mouth off, Slang.
    1. to talk back; sass: He mouthed off to his mother.
    2. to express one’s opinions, objections, or the like in a forceful or uninhibited manner, especially in public.

Idioms

23. down in/at the mouth, Informal. dejected; depressed; disheartened: Ever since he lost his job, he has been looking very down in the mouth.
24. run off at the mouth, Informal. to talk incessantly or indiscreetly.
25. talk out of both sides of one’s mouth, to make contradictory or untruthful statements.

noun (maʊθ) plural mouths (maʊðz)

1. the opening through which many animals take in food and issue vocal sounds
2. the system of organs surrounding this opening, including the lips, tongue, teeth, etc
3. the visible part of the lips on the faceRelated adjectives: oral, oscular
4. a person regarded as a consumer of foodfour mouths to feed
5. verbal expression (esp in the phrase give mouth to)
6. a particular manner of speakinga foul mouth
7. informal boastful, rude, or excessive talkhe is all mouth
8. the point where a river issues into a sea or lake
9. the opening of a container, such as a jar
10. the opening of or place leading into a cave, tunnel, volcano, etc
11. that part of the inner lip of a horse on which the bit acts, esp when specified as to sensitivitya hard mouth
12. music the narrow slit in an organ pipe
13. the opening between the jaws of a vice or other gripping device
14. a pout; grimace
15. by word of mouth orally rather than by written means
16. down in the mouth or down at the mouth in low spirits
17. have a big mouth or open one’s big mouth informal to speak indiscreetly, loudly, or excessively
18. keep one’s mouth shut to keep a secret
19. put one’s money where one’s mouth is to take appropriate action to support what one has said
20. put words into someone’s mouth
    1. to represent, often inaccurately, what someone has said
    2. to tell someone what to say
21. run off at the mouth informal to talk incessantly, esp about unimportant matters

verb (maʊð)

22. to speak or say (something) insincerely, esp in public
23. (tr) to form (words) with movements of the lips but without speaking
24. (tr) to accustom (a horse) to wearing a bit
25. (tr) to take (something) into the mouth or to move (something) around inside the mouth
26. (intr usually foll by at) to make a grimace

n.Old English muþ “mouth, opening, door, gate,” from Proto-Germanic *munthaz (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian muth, Old Norse munnr, Danish mund, Middle Dutch mont, Dutch mond, Old High German mund, German Mund, Gothic munþs “mouth”), with characteristic loss of nasal consonant in Old English (cf. tooth, goose, etc.), from PIE *mnto-s (cf. Latin mentum “chin”). In the sense of “outfall of a river” it is attested from late Old English; as the opening of anything with capacity (a bottle, cave, etc.) it is recorded from c.1200. Mouth-organ attested from 1660s. v.c.1300, “to speak,” from mouth (n.). Related: Mouthed; mouthing. Old English had muðettan “to blab.” n. pl. mouths (mouðz)

1. The body opening through which an animal takes in food.
2. The oral cavity.
3. The opening to any cavity or canal in an organ or a bodily part.

In addition to the idiom beginning with mouth

mouth off

also see:

bad mouth

big mouth

butter wouldn’t melt in one’s mouth

down in the dumps (mouth)

foam at the mouth

foot in one’s mouth

from the horse’s mouth

hand to mouth

have one’s heart in one’s mouth

keep one’s mouth shut

laugh out of the other side of one’s mouth

leave a bad taste in one’s mouth

look a gift horse in the mouth

make one’s mouth water

melt in one’s mouth

not open one’s mouth

out of the mouths of babes

put one’s money where one’s mouth is

put words in someone’s mouth

run off at the mouth

shoot off one’s mouth

take the bit in one’s mouth

take the bread out of someone’s mouth

take the words out of someone’s mouth

word of mouth