Dictionary

white lie en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) A deliberately untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result; especially, one which is judged to be better than an overhonest alternative, as for example to remain polite in a superficial social exchange, or to pick one's battles.
   • What the next man knows, where the next man goes / Telling white lies ‘bout black folks 2021, “Hard To Find”, in Parallel World, performed by Cadence Weapon:
   • The prevarication and white lies which a mind that keeps itself ambitiously pure is as uneasy under as a great artist under the false touches that no eye detects but his own, are worn as lightly as mere trimmings when once the actions have become a lie. 1861, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], chapter XIII, in Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, part I, page 239:
   • Too many joy rides in daddy's Jaguar / Too many white lies and white lines 2012, “Super Rich Kids”, in channel Orange, performed by Frank Ocean ft. Earl Sweatshirt:
   • An occasional little white lie such as Weston's probably won't cause any lasting damage. And at times, telling the truth—particularly the whole truth to a child who's not at an age to handle it—may do more harm than good, they say. 2008 July 15, Jacqueline Stenson, “The Whole Truth: When is it okay to lie to your kids?”, in Newsweek, retrieved 14 Sep 2017:

Forms

Synonyms

fib

Translations (30)

tr beyaz yalan (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · cmn 白色謊言 /白色谎言 (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · bg благоро́дна лъжа́ (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · ko 선의의 거짓말 (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · ko 하얀 거짓말 (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · da hvid løgn (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · it bugia bianca (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · it bugia pietosa (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · es mentirilla (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · fi valkoinen valhe (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · pl bajer (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · ru неви́нная ложь (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · pt mentira branca (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · hu kegyes hazugság (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · ja 罪のない嘘 (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · pt mentirinha (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · fr mensonge officieux (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · ca mentida inofensiva (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · fr pieux mensonge (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · it bugia a fin di bene (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · de soziale Lüge (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · la pia fraus (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · nb hvit løgn (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · es mentirijilla (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · de Notlüge (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · nl leugen om bestwil (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · ja 悪意のない嘘 (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · cmn 善意的謊言 /善意的谎言 (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · es mentira piadosa (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result) · sv vit lögn (deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result)