double-dealing
C1Formal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
The practice of deceiving people by saying or doing different things to different people; duplicity, cheating.
Can refer specifically to underhanded or corrupt business or political behaviour, or more generally to any situation where someone is leading two contradictory lives or sets of allegiances.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is heavily negative and implies a sustained, deliberate pattern of deception, not a single lie. It often implies betrayal of trust for personal gain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major difference in meaning or form. Both regions use the hyphenated noun 'double-dealing' and the agent noun 'double-dealer'.
Connotations
Identically negative connotations of treachery and dishonesty in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more common in UK English in political/journalistic contexts, but well-understood and used in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be accused of [double-dealing]engage in [double-dealing][double-dealing] between X and Ya history of [double-dealing]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To play a double game”
- “To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds (similar concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to fraudulent negotiations, secret deals with competitors, or unethical insider practices.
Academic
Used in political science, history, and literature to analyse betrayal, espionage, or moral hypocrisy.
Everyday
Used to describe a person who lies to different friends or within a family.
Technical
Not typically a technical term outside of descriptive use in ethics or politics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was dismissed for double-dealing with suppliers.
American English
- The senator was caught double-dealing with lobbyists.
adverb
British English
- He acted double-dealingly throughout the negotiations.
American English
- The corporation operated double-dealingly for years.
adjective
British English
- They uncovered his double-dealing schemes.
American English
- The agent led a double-dealing life.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I don't trust him; I think there's some double-dealing going on.
- The political scandal revealed a history of double-dealing between the minister and the media baron.
- The company's collapse was precipitated not by market forces but by a culture of internal double-dealing and embezzlement.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a card dealer at a casino secretly dealing from two decks – one for the house, one for a secret partner. That's 'double-dealing'.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEPTION IS A GAME (with hidden, unfair rules); BETRAYAL IS A DOUBLE PATH.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calques like 'двойная сделка' (double transaction/deal).
- Closer equivalents are 'двуличие', 'вероломство', 'двойная игра'.
- Do not confuse with 'double-checking' ('перепроверка').
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'double-dealing' (deceit) with 'double-crossing' (a specific betrayal of a partner in crime).
- Using it to describe simple indecision (e.g., 'He couldn't choose, he was double-dealing').
- Misspelling as 'doubledealing' without the hyphen.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of 'double-dealing'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily illegal in a strict sense (like fraud), but it is always unethical and often breaches contracts or trust. It can be part of illegal activities like corruption.
A hypocrite says one thing and believes/does another, often about morals. A double-dealer actively deceives two or more parties for gain, which is a more active form of betrayal.
Yes, though less common than the noun. 'To double-deal' means to engage in deceitful practices (e.g., 'He double-dealt with both companies').
Yes, the standard form for the noun and adjective is hyphenated: 'double-dealing'. The verb can be hyphenated ('double-deal') or written as two words.