janus-faced

• Décrit quelqu'un ou quelque chose de fourbe, trompeur ou hypocrite ; ayant des aspects contrastés, en particulier un côté agréable et un côté désagréable.

Describes someone or something that is two-faced, deceitful, or hypocritical; having contrasting aspects, especially a pleasant and an unpleasant side.

1. Having contrasting aspectsC2formal

   Characterized by or concerned with opposing or contrasting qualities, such as good and evil, past and future, or two different sides of a situation.

   à double face

   • The politician's Janus-faced policy tried to appeal to both environmentalists and industrialists.
   • The novel presents a Janus-faced view of the city, showing both its beauty and its decay.
   • His Janus-faced argument considered both the benefits and the drawbacks of the new law.

   Synonymesambivalentbipolarcontradictorydichotomousdouble-faceddualparadoxicalsplittwo-facedtwo-sided

2. Deceptive or two-facedC2formal

   Marked by deliberate deception, especially by pretending to have one set of feelings or intentions while acting under the influence of another.

   fourbe, hypocrite

   • She discovered her Janus-faced friend had been spreading rumors behind her back.
   • The company's Janus-faced marketing promised quality while using cheap materials.
   • His Janus-faced behavior at work—praising his boss while secretly applying for other jobs—was eventually exposed.

   Synonymesdeceitfuldishonestdouble-dealingduplicitousfalsehypocriticalinsincereperfidioustreacheroustwo-faced

   Antonymescandidgenuinehonestopensincerestraightforwardtruthful

3. Looking both waysC2formal

   Having two faces, one looking to the future and one to the past, symbolizing the ability to consider both past and future simultaneously.

   à double face (regardant à la fois vers le passé et l'avenir)

   • The Janus-faced statue at the museum represents the transition from the old year to the new.
   • In his speech, the historian took a Janus-faced approach, reflecting on past mistakes while planning for future successes.
   • The project was Janus-faced, drawing lessons from previous failures while innovating for tomorrow.

   Synonymesbifacialdouble-facedtwo-faced