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Janus-faced for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: 'dʒeɪnəs_,feɪst

What does Janus-faced really mean?

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Student: Hey teacher, I came across the word "Janus-faced" while reading a book, but I couldn't understand what it means. Can you help me?

Teacher: Absolutely! I'd be happy to help you understand the word "Janus-faced." So, imagine you have a friend who always acts differently around different people. Sometimes, they're really nice and kind, but other times, they can be mean and rude. They sort of wear two different faces, right? Well, the word "Janus-faced" is kind of like that.

The word "Janus-faced" comes from Roman mythology. In the Roman stories, Janus was a god with two faces - one looking forward and the other looking backward. This unique characteristic of Janus made people associate the term with a person who behaves differently in different situations, just like our friend who wears two faces.

Now, when we use the word "Janus-faced" today, we typically describe someone who is two-faced or duplicitous. It refers to a person who shows one side of their personality or character in certain situations, but then completely changes when they're in a different environment or around different people. It's like they have two different versions of themselves that they present to the world.

Consider this metaphor, which may help you better understand it. Picture a coin with two different faces on either side. When you flip the coin, you can only see one face at a time, but both faces belong to the same coin. Similarly, a person who is Janus-faced may have multiple sides to their personality, but all those sides are part of who they are.

So, in simpler terms, "Janus-faced" means a person who behaves one way in certain situations and a completely different way in other situations. They have different faces or sides to their personality that they show depending on the circumstances.

Student: Oh, I get it now! It's like when someone acts nice to me when others are around, but then they're mean to me when we're alone. They're Janus-faced!

Teacher: Exactly! You got it! It's important to be aware of Janus-faced people because they might not always be genuine or sincere. It's essential to surround yourself with friends who are consistent and true to themselves. Being Janus-faced might not be the best way to build trust and long-lasting relationships.

Revised and Fact checked by John Doe on 2023-10-29 13:01:24

Janus-faced In a sentece

Learn how to use Janus-faced inside a sentece

  • A person who is Janus-faced might say nice things to your face but then talk badly about you behind your back.
  • A Janus-faced character in a movie might pretend to be trustworthy but actually have evil intentions.
  • Sometimes people can act Janus-faced by showing a friendly attitude towards someone they dislike.
  • A Janus-faced politician might promise one thing during the campaign but do the opposite once elected.
  • A Janus-faced friend might act supportive in front of others but secretly compete with you.

Janus-faced Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Janus-faced Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.