Dictionary

give the lie en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From give + the + lie, where lie is used in an obsolete sense to mean a claim that someone is lying.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, intransitive, transitive) To respond to an insult, accusation, or falsehood by saying the offender is lying, particularly in the context of provoking a challenge to a duel.
   • The great Violation of the Point of Honour from Man to Man, is giving the Lie. One may tell another he Whores, Drinks, Blasphemes, and it may pass unresented; but to say he Lies, tho’ but in Jest, is an Affront that nothing but Blood can expiate. 1711, Joseph Addison, The Spectator, No. 99:
   • Whatever injury was the initial cause of the quarrel, conflict might move into its physically violent phase only through the particular act of resentment constituted by giving the lie. 1994, Steven Shapin, A Social History of Truth: Civility and Science in Seventeenth-Century England:
   • Giving the lie became the fundamental way of questioning a man’s status as a gentleman. 2009, Jerome Neu, Sticks and Stones: The Philosophy of Insults:
   • Ariel: Thou liest. Stephano: Do I so? Take thou that! [Beats Trinculo] As you like this, give me the lie another time! Trinculo: I did not give the lie! Out o' your wits and hearing too?[…] 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
   • Say to the Court, it glowes, and shines like rotten wood; Say to the Church, it shewes whats good, and doth no good: If Church and Court reply, then giue them both the lye. c. 1592, Walter Raleigh, “The Lie”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), published 1608:
   • They gave the Queen the Lye divers times, and uſed her with moſt deſpiteful Speeches. 1593, Richard Bancroft, Daungerous positions and proceedings, published and practised within this iland of Brytaine:
   • It is reputed so great a shame to be accounted a lyer, that any other injury is cancelled by giving the lie; and he that receiveth it, standeth so charged in his honor and reputation, that he cannot disburden himselfe of that imputation, but by striking of him that hath so giuen it, or by challenging him the combat. 1606, Lodowick Bryskett, A Discourse of Civill Life: containing the Ethike Part of Morall Philosophie. Fit for the instructing of a Gentleman in the Course of a Vertuous Life.:
2. Used in give the lie to.

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