1.
tip of the tongue
the front part of the tongue, especially as used in tasting or pronouncing sounds
舌先でソースの味を確かめた。
I tasted the sauce with the tip of my tongue.
辛いものを食べると舌先がピリピリする。
When I eat spicy food, my tongue tip tingles.
舌先にレモンの酸味が広がった。
The sourness of lemon spread across the tip of my tongue.
2.
glib talk; smooth talking; lip service
insincere or superficial speech, often used negatively to describe someone who is good at talking but not trustworthy
舌先だけの約束は信用できない。
Promises that are just lip service can't be trusted.
あの営業マンは舌先がうまい。
That salesman has a smooth tongue.
舌先三寸で人を騙すような真似はするな。
Don't do things like deceiving people with glib talk.
IDIOM:
舌先三寸 (literally "three inches of tongue tip") means using smooth talk to deceive or persuade others. It has a strongly negative connotation.
RELATED TERMS:
- 口先 (lip service; glib talk - similar to sense 2)
- 舌 (tongue)
- 口がうまい (to be smooth-talking)