While watching the British series Reindeer (Baby Reindeer) in the original language with Ukrainian subtitles, I was drawn to a phrase that was translated as “suspended tongue”. I became curious about what the actress said in the original. Her English was sometimes not very clear to me. And in my vocabulary, I couldn't find words that could be translated as suspended tongue.
After rewinding and turning on the English subtitles (thankfully, this feature on Netflix is quite convenient), I read and heard the character's line: You’ve got a silver tongue on you, you do, devil boy. From this, I conclude that silver tongue is indeed suspended tongue.
This phrase is an idiom in both Ukrainian and English (I have already written more about this term here). It describes a trait of a person who can speak beautifully and persuasively, enchanting listeners with well-chosen words.
Besides the so-called “silver tongue,” there are other expressions in English with similar meanings:
"Gift of the gab" - means the ability to speak well, especially persuasively or eloquently.He has the gift of the gab - he can talk his way out of anything!
"Smooth talker" - a person who speaks easily, confidently, and persuasively, often for manipulation.Be careful, he's a smooth talker and might trick you into agreeing.
Finally, I still want to recommend the series Reindeer if someone hasn't seen it yet. There aren't many episodes, and they are short. The plot is based on the author's real experience, who also plays the main role. It has everything - drama, hints of thriller, dark humor. Fresh and interesting! The only downside for those who don't like watching content with subtitles is that there is still no Ukrainian dubbing on Netflix.
