Pronunciation: /laɪ/
noun a false statement made with intent to deceive
A1 She told a little white lie to avoid hurting his feelings.
A2 He couldn't believe that his friend had been telling lies about him behind his back.
B1 The detective was able to uncover the truth by sorting through all the lies.
B2 After years of deceit, the politician's lies finally caught up with him.
C1 The expert witness was called in to determine if the defendant's testimony was based on lies.
C2 The journalist's expose revealed a web of lies that had been carefully constructed by the corrupt corporation.
verb to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, with intent to deceive
A1 I lie down on the grass to relax.
A2 She lies about her age to seem younger.
B1 He lied to his boss about being sick so he could go to the beach.
B2 The politician was caught lying about his involvement in the scandal.
C1 She has a reputation for lying to get ahead in her career.
C2 The company's CEO was found guilty of lying under oath during the trial.
formal It is unethical to tell a lie in a professional setting.
informal I can't believe he told such a big lie about what happened.
slang Don't listen to him, he's just spinning a lie to cover his tracks.
figurative The painting's beauty was so captivating, it almost seemed to lie beyond reality.
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