16 Idioms for Lying
Introduction
Lying is a common human behavior, and in English, we have colorful ways to express it through idioms. These idiomatic expressions are not just amusing; they also add depth and nuance to our conversations.
Hook with a Relatable Example
Imagine you’re chatting with a friend who tells you the most unbelievable story about winning a million dollars on a scratch card. You raise an eyebrow—was that story really true, or were they just trying to impress you?
Explain What Idioms Are
Idioms are phrases where the meanings aren’t obvious from the individual words. Instead, they convey a specific idea or feeling that often gives insight into cultural contexts.
Mention that the article focuses on idioms related to "lying"
In this article, we will focus on idioms related to the theme of lying. Understanding these idioms can help you navigate everyday conversations more effectively, especially when someone may not be telling the whole truth.
Say there will be 16 idioms with examples, exercises and quiz
Get ready for 16 idioms about lying, complete with examples, exercises, and a quiz to test your understanding!
1. Bend the truth
Meaning: To alter the truth slightly but not wholly lie.
In a Sentence:
She bent the truth about her qualifications to seem more appealing.
Example 1: He likes to bend the truth to make his stories more entertaining.
Example 2: Sometimes, it’s okay to bend the truth a little in order to spare someone’s feelings.
Other ways to say it: Stretch the truth, sugarcoat the truth.
2. Tell a tall tale
Meaning: To tell an exaggerated story that is hard to believe.
In a Sentence:
He’s known for telling tall tales about his adventures.
Example 1: When John said he fought a bear, I thought he was just telling a tall tale.
Example 2: The children sat around the campfire listening to tall tales of pirates and treasure.
Other ways to say it: Fabricate a story, spin a yarn.
3. Pull the wool over someone’s eyes
Meaning: To deceive someone or hide the truth from them.
In a Sentence:
She thought she could pull the wool over my eyes with her false claims.
Example 1: Don’t let him pull the wool over your eyes; he’s not as honest as he seems.
Example 2: The online scam was an attempt to pull the wool over unsuspecting buyers.
Other ways to say it: Deceive, mislead.
4. Lie through your teeth
Meaning: To lie blatantly and shamelessly.
In a Sentence:
He was lying through his teeth when he said he never broke the vase.
Example 1: She lied through her teeth about her whereabouts last night.
Example 2: You could tell he was lying through his teeth by the way he avoided eye contact.
Other ways to say it: Be dishonest, tell blatant lies.
5. Cook the books
Meaning: To falsify financial records.
In a Sentence:
The accountant was caught cooking the books to hide losses.
Example 1: Cooking the books can lead to serious legal trouble for a company.
Example 2: It’s important to have ethical practices in place to prevent anyone from cooking the books.
Other ways to say it: Fraudulent accounting, falsify records.
6. Fish for compliments
Meaning: To seek praise by suggesting something negative about oneself.
In a Sentence:
She always fishes for compliments after her presentations.
Example 1: By talking about her poor cooking skills, she was just fishing for compliments.
Example 2: He fished for compliments rather than accepting that he did a good job.
Other ways to say it: Seek validation, solicit praise.
7. White lie
Meaning: A harmless or trivial lie, often told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.
In a Sentence:
Sometimes a little white lie is better than telling the harsh truth.
Example 1: She told a white lie about loving the gift, even though she didn’t.
Example 2: A white lie can smooth over an awkward situation.
Other ways to say it: Small lie, harmless untruth.
8. In a real pickle
Meaning: In a difficult situation often caused by deceit or misunderstanding.
In a Sentence:
He found himself in a real pickle after lying on his resume.
Example 1: When the truth came out, she was in a real pickle with her friends.
Example 2: Being in a real pickle made it difficult to come clean.
Other ways to say it: Dilemma, tricky situation.
9. Smokescreen
Meaning: A ruse or distraction meant to cover up the truth.
In a Sentence:
This smokescreen hid the real intentions behind the project.
Example 1: His excuses were just a smokescreen to hide his mistakes.
Example 2: The party was a smokescreen to distract from the bad news.
Other ways to say it: Deception, distraction.
10. Spin a yarn
Meaning: To tell a highly imaginative or exaggerated story.
In a Sentence:
He loves to spin a yarn about his time living abroad.
Example 1: The tall tales he spun were more entertaining than reality.
Example 2: Everyday events became grand adventures when he spun his yarns.
Other ways to say it: Fabricate, tell stories.
11. Play fast and loose with the truth
Meaning: To act without regard for the truth; to be careless about honesty.
In a Sentence:
You can’t play fast and loose with the truth in relationships.
Example 1: He tended to play fast and loose with the truth in his business dealings.
Example 2: Playing fast and loose with facts can lead to trouble.
Other ways to say it: Be careless, be dishonest.
12. Fudge the numbers
Meaning: To manipulate financial data to misrepresent the facts.
In a Sentence:
They fudged the numbers to attract more investors.
Example 1: Fudging the numbers can have serious consequences for the company.
Example 2: It’s unethical to fudge the numbers to make the situation look better.
Other ways to say it: Distort figures, manipulate data.
13. Keep someone in the dark
Meaning: To keep someone uninformed or unaware of what’s happening.
In a Sentence:
They chose to keep her in the dark about the project changes.
Example 1: It’s not fair to keep employees in the dark about company policies.
Example 2: She felt frustrated being kept in the dark about the real issue.
Other ways to say it: Withhold information, keep unaware.
14. Caught red-handed
Meaning: To be caught in the act of doing something wrong.
In a Sentence:
He was caught red-handed trying to steal cookies from the jar.
Example 1: The thief was caught red-handed by the security camera.
Example 2: Getting caught red-handed made it hard for him to deny his actions.
Other ways to say it: Be caught in the act, exposed.
15. Tell a fib
Meaning: To tell a small or trivial lie.
In a Sentence:
He’s just telling a fib; it’s not a big deal.
Example 1: She didn’t mean any harm by telling a fib about her weekend.
Example 2: A little fib can sometimes make a conversation more pleasant.
Other ways to say it: Small lie, falsehood.
16. Make up a story
Meaning: To fabricate a story or lie.
In a Sentence:
He made up a story to explain why he was late.
Example 1: I thought she was just making up a story when she said she met a celebrity.
Example 2: Making up a story can often lead to even more complications.
Other ways to say it: Create a false narrative, fabricate a tale.
Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks
- I don’t trust him; he loves to ___ the truth.
- She told a ___ about how she met the president.
- Don’t let her ___ you; she doesn’t always tell the truth.
- He was ___ when he claimed he could run a marathon.
- The company got into trouble for ___ the books.
- He is always ___ for compliments after his performances.
- She told a little ___ about liking her friend’s dress.
- After his actions, he found himself in a real ___.
- The project was just a ___ to hide the real issues.
- Every time I see him, he has a new ___ to tell.
- You can’t just ___ the numbers to make a better report.
- Don’t keep me ___ about what’s happening.
- He was ___ trying to cheat on the exam.
- It was just a small ___ about my favorite food.
- I thought he was ___ when he said he had a pet dragon.
- By lying, you will only ___ a difficult story for yourself later.
Answer Key:
- bend
- tall tale
- pull the wool over
- lying through his teeth
- cooking
- fishing
- white lie
- pickle
- smokescreen
- yarn
- fudge
- in the dark
- caught red-handed
- fib
- making up
- create
Exercise 2 – Multiple Choice Quiz
What does "bend the truth" mean?
- A) Tell the absolute truth
- B) Exaggerate slightly
- C) Lie completely
- D) Forget the truth
"Caught red-handed" refers to:
- A) Being very honest
- B) Being caught in a lie
- C) Being caught while doing something illegal
- D) Being praised
A "white lie" is:
- A) A significant untruth
- B) A harmless untruth
- C) A big secret
- D) An opinion
What does it mean to "fish for compliments"?
- A) To avoid compliments
- B) To seek praise
- C) To have a picnic
- D) To tell a story
When someone "plays fast and loose with the truth," they are:
- A) Being meticulous about honesty
- B) Being careless about the truth
- C) Always telling the truth
- D) Not interested in lying
"Tell a fib" refers to:
- A) A major lie
- B) A minor untruth
- C) A factual statement
- D) A compliment
- "Cook the books" implies:
- A) Preparing food
- B) Altering financial records
- C) Baking cookies
- D) Being honest about finances
Answer Key:
- B
- C
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
7 Tips to Remember 16 Idioms for Lying
Visualize Each Idiom: Create a mental image for each idiom to help remember its meaning.
Create Context: Use the idioms in sentences related to your everyday life for better retention.
Group Similar Idioms: Categorizing idioms can help connecting them with their meanings.
Practice with Friends: Engage in conversations incorporating these idioms to enhance usage.
Flashcards: Make flashcards with the idiom on one side and the meaning on the other for quick revision.
Write Stories: Write a short story using as many idioms as possible to reinforce memory.
- Regular Review: Revisit the idioms regularly to keep them fresh in your mind.
Conclusion
In this article, you’ve explored 16 idioms related to lying, ranging from bending the truth to being caught red-handed. These expressions not only enrich your vocabulary but also improve your ability to understand conversations more deeply.
Now, challenge yourself to practice and use 2–3 idioms in your discussions today! Happy learning!
