Think of that one person who smiles in your face but whispers behind your back. You trust them with a secret, yet somehow the whole office knows by lunchtime. That’s the kind of person English calls a “double-dealer.” In this post, let’s uncover what double-dealer means, where it came from, and how you can use it naturally in conversation.
Meaning of “Double-dealer”
A double-dealer is someone who pretends to be loyal or honest while secretly acting against another person’s interests. They play both sides — appearing friendly while working behind your back.
In short, a double-dealer is a deceitful person who says one thing and does another.
Summary definition:
➡️ A person who cheats, betrays, or deceives others by pretending to be trustworthy.
Origin of “Double-dealer”
The term double-dealer dates back to the late 1500s. It originally came from the world of card games, where a dishonest player might “deal” cards from the deck in a tricky or unfair way — essentially dealing twice to cheat.
From there, the phrase evolved into a metaphor for people who “play both sides” in real life — pretending to be on your team while secretly supporting the enemy.
The idiom became widely used in literature and politics. For instance, William Shakespeare used similar expressions about deceitful characters, and later, Jonathan Swift (in the early 1700s) popularized the term “double-dealer” in his satirical works, especially in the play “The Double-Dealer” (1693) by William Congreve, which directly portrayed hypocrisy and betrayal in high society.
So, the idiom’s origin perfectly captures its meaning — a double-dealer is someone who plays a dirty hand in the game of trust.
Examples in Sentences
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“Everyone thought Mark was loyal, but he turned out to be a double-dealer feeding our secrets to the competition.”
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“In politics, it’s hard to tell who’s a true ally and who’s a double-dealer.”
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“She smiled during the meeting but later spread rumors — a real double-dealer move.”
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“The movie’s villain was a master double-dealer, working for both the police and the criminals.”
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“Watch out for double-dealers in business; they’ll agree with you in person and sabotage you later.”
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“That novel’s plot twist revealed the hero’s best friend as the ultimate double-dealer.”
Similar Idioms or Phrases
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Backstabber – Someone who pretends to be your friend but betrays you when you’re not looking.
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Two-faced – Describes a person who shows one side in front of you and another behind your back.
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Snake in the grass – A hidden enemy who waits for the right moment to strike.
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Wolf in sheep’s clothing – Someone who hides their malicious intentions behind a kind or harmless appearance.
All these idioms carry the same warning: don’t trust appearances too quickly!
PERSONAL INSIGHT
I’ve used double-dealer a few times when talking about characters in books or dramas. It’s such a sharp, precise word — you can almost feel the betrayal in it. Whenever someone plays both sides for their own benefit, “double-dealer” captures the emotion better than any modern slang.
CONCLUSION
To sum up, a double-dealer is a deceptive person who pretends to be loyal but secretly betrays others. The phrase comes from old card-playing slang, and it still fits perfectly in today’s world of politics, workplaces, and friendships.
So next time someone’s actions don’t match their words, you might be dealing with a double-dealer!
👉 Do you use “double-dealer” in your conversations? Share your examples in the comments below — let’s spot the tricky players together!