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When someone promises one thing and then does the opposite, or holds other people to rules they ignore themselves, English has plenty of ways to describe it. Some words are blunt, like hypocrite and two-faced. Others are softer or more formal, like inconsistent and disingenuous. Picking the right one depends on how serious the behavior is and who you are talking to.
Below you will find single words, phrases, and idioms for saying one thing and doing another, the expressions that describe the opposite (keeping your word), notes on tone and strength, common mistakes, and practice exercises with answers.
Key Vocabulary: Hypocrisy and Related Words
The central word for saying one thing and doing another is hypocrisy. It means claiming to have beliefs, standards, or values that your own behavior does not match. A person who does this is a hypocrite, and the behavior is hypocritical.
| Word | Part of Speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
| hypocrisy | noun (the behavior) | The hypocrisy of the rule annoyed everyone. |
| hypocrite | noun (the person) | He called his boss a hypocrite. |
| hypocritical | adjective | It is hypocritical to complain about noise while playing loud music. |
| hypocritically | adverb | She hypocritically criticized others for being late. |
Hypocrisy is not quite the same as lying. A liar says something false. A hypocrite may say something true, such as “Honesty matters,” but fails to live by it. Many of the words below focus on one side of the problem: some describe the gap between words and actions, some describe a fake or insincere manner, and some describe judging others by a stricter standard than yourself.
Words and Phrases for Saying One Thing and Doing Another
The table below covers single words first, then phrases and idioms. Each entry has a short meaning and a natural example sentence.
| Word or Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| hypocrite | a person whose actions contradict the values they claim to hold | He lectures us about saving money, then buys a new car every year. What a hypocrite. |
| hypocritical | behaving in a way that contradicts what you say you believe | It feels hypocritical to ban phones in class when the teacher texts during lessons. |
| two-faced | friendly to someone in person but critical or disloyal behind their back | I stopped trusting her after I heard how two-faced she was about her friends. |
| duplicitous | deliberately deceptive; acting one way while secretly intending another | The duplicitous partner was negotiating with a rival company the whole time. |
| duplicity | deceitful behavior; the noun form of duplicitous | The report exposed the duplicity of officials who praised the project in public and blocked it in private. |
| disingenuous | not fully honest or sincere, often pretending to know less than you do | It is disingenuous to say you had no idea about the price increase when you approved it. |
| insincere | not meaning what you say or feel | His apology sounded insincere because he did it again the next day. |
| inconsistent | not staying the same; words and actions do not match | The manager’s decisions are inconsistent with the company values she talks about. |
| sanctimonious | acting morally superior in a way that others find annoying | She gave a sanctimonious speech about kindness and then snapped at the waiter. |
| holier-than-thou | acting as if you are morally better than everyone else | Nobody likes his holier-than-thou attitude, especially since he cuts corners too. |
| self-righteous | certain that you are morally right and others are wrong | The self-righteous neighbor reported everyone else’s parking but ignored his own. |
| pharisaical | (formal) focused on showing off rules and piety rather than real goodness | The critic described the committee’s pharisaical concern with appearances. |
| double-dealing | secretly working against someone you appear to support | The double-dealing agent sold information to both sides. |
| hollow | (of words or promises) without real meaning or intention behind them | After three delays, the mayor’s promises sounded hollow. |
| double standard | a rule applied more strictly to one person or group than another | There is a double standard when managers can work from home but staff cannot. |
| lip service | support expressed in words but not backed by action | The policy is mostly lip service; nothing has changed in the office. |
| pay lip service to | to say you support something without actually doing anything for it | Many companies pay lip service to work-life balance while expecting late-night emails. |
| all talk and no action | someone who talks about doing things but never does them | He keeps saying he’ll start a business, but he’s all talk and no action. |
| all talk | a shorter, informal version of the phrase above | Don’t worry about his threats. He’s all talk. |
| say one thing and do another | to make statements that your behavior contradicts | Voters are tired of politicians who say one thing and do another. |
| do as I say, not as I do | a phrase used, often ironically, when someone tells others to follow rules they break | My dad told me not to eat junk food with a bag of chips in his hand. Do as I say, not as I do. |
| the pot calling the kettle black | criticizing someone for a fault you also have | You’re calling me messy? That’s the pot calling the kettle black. |
| people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones | don’t criticize others for faults you also have | Before you complain about her spending, remember that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. |
| empty promises | promises the speaker has no real plan to keep | The landlord’s repairs were just empty promises. |
| go back on your word | to break a promise you made | He went back on his word and gave the job to someone else. |
| talk out of both sides of your mouth | (American) to say different or opposite things to different people | The senator is talking out of both sides of his mouth, supporting the bill in one city and opposing it in another. |
| talk is cheap | saying something is easy; doing it is what counts | Talk is cheap. Show me the finished report. |
| actions speak louder than words | what people do shows their real intentions more than what they say | He says he values the team, but actions speak louder than words. |
| crocodile tears | a show of sadness or sympathy that is not genuine | She cried crocodile tears over the layoffs she had planned herself. |
Opposites: Words for Keeping Your Word
It is just as useful to know how to praise someone whose actions match their words. These expressions are almost always positive.
| Word or Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| practice what you preach | to follow the advice you give to others | Our coach practices what she preaches; she’s first at every early training session. |
| walk the talk | to act in line with what you say | The company promised greener offices and actually walked the talk. |
| walk the walk | to back up words with action; often paired with “talk the talk” | He can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk? |
| put your money where your mouth is | to support your claims with money or real action | If you think the plan will work, put your money where your mouth is and invest. |
| true to your word | doing exactly what you promised | True to her word, she returned the book on Monday. |
| keep your word | to do what you promised | I trust him because he always keeps his word. |
| a person of their word | someone who reliably does what they say | She’s a woman of her word, so the deal is safe. |
| sincere / genuine | honestly meaning what you say | His thanks were sincere, and he followed up with a handwritten note. |
| consistent | behaving the same way over time; words and actions match | Good leaders are consistent in how they apply the rules. |
Tone and Register: How Strong Is Each Word?
These words are not interchangeable. Some are accusations that can end a conversation, while others let you point out a problem without attacking the person. As a rule, words that describe a behavior (inconsistent, a double standard) sound milder than words that label a person (a hypocrite, two-faced).
Formal and Neutral Choices
In work emails, essays, reports, and polite conversation, these choices let you raise the issue carefully:
| Word or Phrase | Register | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| inconsistent | neutral, safe for work | mild; describes a mismatch without judging motive |
| double standard | neutral | moderate; points to unfairness in a rule, not a person’s character |
| pay lip service to | neutral to formal | moderate; common in business and political writing |
| insincere | neutral | moderate |
| disingenuous | formal | moderate to strong; suggests deliberate dishonesty but sounds measured |
| duplicitous, double-dealing | formal | strong; implies deliberate deception |
| sanctimonious, pharisaical | formal, literary | strong; criticizes moral superiority |
Compare: “This decision seems inconsistent with our stated policy” invites discussion. “Your decision is hypocritical” puts the other person on the defensive.
Informal and Blunt Choices
Among friends, in casual speech, or in opinion writing, you will hear more colorful options:
- two-faced and hypocrite are direct personal insults. Use them only when you mean to be blunt.
- holier-than-thou and self-righteous are mocking. They criticize an attitude as much as a behavior.
- all talk, all talk and no action, and talk is cheap are conversational and can be playful or cutting depending on tone.
- the pot calling the kettle black and do as I say, not as I do are often used with humor, especially about yourself or family.
- talk out of both sides of your mouth is informal and mostly American; it is common in political commentary.
A useful trick is to aim a strong word at yourself. “I’d be a hypocrite if I told you to stop snacking” sounds honest and friendly rather than accusing.
Common Mistakes
Learners and native speakers alike trip over the spelling, grammar, and exact meaning of these words.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| He is very hypocrite. | He is very hypocritical. / He is a hypocrite. | “Hypocrite” is a noun. Use the adjective “hypocritical” after “very.” |
| She is such a hypocrit. | She is such a hypocrite. | The noun ends in -crite, with a final e. |
| That rule is hypocritic. | That rule is hypocritical. | The standard adjective is “hypocritical.” |
| The hypocracy of the plan was obvious. | The hypocrisy of the plan was obvious. | The noun is spelled -crisy, not “-cracy” as in “democracy.” |
| He gave a disingenuous answer, so he must be clever. | He gave a disingenuous answer, so I don’t trust him. | “Disingenuous” means not sincere. It has nothing to do with “ingenious” (clever). |
| They pay lips service to diversity. | They pay lip service to diversity. | The fixed phrase is singular: “lip service.” |
| Put your mouth where your money is. | Put your money where your mouth is. | The idiom means back up your words (mouth) with money or action. |
| He has a holier than thou attitude. | He has a holier-than-thou attitude. | Hyphenate the phrase when it comes before a noun. |
| She is two faced. | She is two-faced. | “Two-faced” is a hyphenated compound adjective. |
| You’re late? That’s the pot calling the kettle black. (said by someone who is always on time) | You’re late? That’s the pot calling the kettle black. (said to someone who is also always late) | The idiom only works when the critic shares the same fault. |
| Practise what you preach. (in American English) | Practice what you preach. | American English uses “practice” for both noun and verb. |
Practice Exercises
Try each exercise, then check your answers in the last column.
Exercise 1: Choose the Best Word
Fill in each blank with one of these: lip service, two-faced, double standard, all talk, hypocritical, empty promises, walks the talk, disingenuous.
| Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Boys can stay out late but girls can’t? That’s a clear ________. | double standard |
| 2. He says he’ll run a marathon every year, but he’s ________. | all talk |
| 3. She’s nice to my face and mean behind my back. She’s so ________. | two-faced |
| 4. The school pays ________ to mental health but has no counselor. | lip service |
| 5. It’s ________ to scold kids for swearing and then swear at other drivers. | hypocritical |
| 6. Our CEO ________: she asked everyone to cut travel and canceled her own trips first. | walks the talk |
| 7. Claiming you never saw the email after replying to it is ________. | disingenuous |
| 8. The campaign was full of ________ that nobody expected to be kept. | empty promises |
Exercise 2: Hypocrisy or Integrity?
Decide whether each sentence describes hypocrisy (H) or integrity (I).
| Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. True to his word, he paid back every dollar. | I |
| 2. She preaches patience but yells at the slightest delay. | H |
| 3. If you believe in the charity, put your money where your mouth is. | I (the speaker is asking for integrity) |
| 4. The manager’s “open door” is lip service; the door is always locked. | H |
| 5. He practices what he preaches and bikes to work every day. | I |
| 6. The politician talks out of both sides of his mouth on taxes. | H |
Exercise 3: Fix the Error
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the corrected sentence.
| Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. I can’t stand his holier than thou tone. | I can’t stand his holier-than-thou tone. |
| 2. It would be hypocrite of me to complain. | It would be hypocritical of me to complain. |
| 3. The hypocracy of the ad campaign drew criticism. | The hypocrisy of the ad campaign drew criticism. |
| 4. They only pay lips service to safety. | They only pay lip service to safety. |
| 5. If you’re so sure, put your mouth where your money is. | If you’re so sure, put your money where your mouth is. |
| 6. He went back on his words and quit the project. | He went back on his word and quit the project. |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the one word for someone who says one thing and does another?
The most common word is hypocrite. If you want to describe the behavior rather than the person, use hypocritical or inconsistent. If the person is friendly to your face but disloyal behind your back, two-faced fits better.
- Is a hypocrite the same as a liar?
No. A liar says something they know is false. A hypocrite claims values or standards they do not follow. A hypocrite can say something true, such as “Exercise is important,” and still be a hypocrite if they never exercise and criticize others who don’t.
- What is a polite way to say someone is being hypocritical?
Focus on the behavior, not the person. Phrases like “That seems inconsistent with what we agreed,” “I think there’s a double standard here,” or “I’m not sure the policy matches what we’re doing” raise the problem without a personal accusation.
- What is the difference between disingenuous and insincere?
Both mean not honest in what you say. Insincere usually describes feelings, like an insincere apology or compliment. Disingenuous is more formal and often describes an argument or claim that pretends to be innocent or less informed than it really is.
- Is it “walk the talk” or “walk the walk”?
Both are used. “Walk the talk” means your actions match your words. “Walk the walk” is usually paired with “talk the talk,” as in “He can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk?” The meaning is essentially the same.
- Does “lip service” always sound negative?
Yes. Saying someone pays lip service to an idea means their support is only in words. It is a criticism, though a moderate one, and it is common in business and news writing.
- When should I use “the pot calling the kettle black”?
Use it when someone criticizes another person for a fault they clearly share. It is informal and often humorous. It does not work if the person doing the criticizing does not have the same fault.
- Is a double standard always hypocrisy?
Not always. A double standard is any rule applied unequally to different people or groups. It becomes hypocrisy when the person setting the rule exempts themselves while claiming the rule matters. A double standard can also simply be unfair treatment between two other groups.