Talking About Lies and Deceit in English: Useful Vocabulary and Phrases
Lies and deceit are universal concepts, but English has a rich vocabulary to describe the shades of dishonesty, from small ‘white lies’ to outright deception. In this post, we’ll explore idioms, collocations, and phrases that you can use to discuss lies and deceit effectively in English.
1. Types of Lies
Let’s start with some useful terms to describe different kinds of lies:
White lie: A harmless or small lie told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.
Example: I told a white lie when I said I liked her new haircut.Blatant lie: A lie that is obvious and shameless.
Example: It was a blatant lie when he said he’d never missed a deadline.Half-truth: A statement that includes some truth but deliberately leaves out important details to mislead.
Example: His explanation was a half-truth—he didn’t mention his role in the mistake.Fabrication: A completely made-up story.
Example: The report was full of fabrications designed to discredit the company.
2. Phrasal Verbs Related to Lies and Deceit
Phrasal verbs add a dynamic element to conversations about deception:
To cover up: To hide the truth about something.
Example: The company tried to cover up the scandal, but the media uncovered the truth.To lie through (your) teeth: To tell a bold, outright lie.
Example: She was lying through her teeth when she said she wasn’t at the party.To lead (someone) on: To deceive someone, often in a romantic or emotional context.
Example: He led her on by pretending he wanted a serious relationship.To make (something) up: To invent a story or lie.
Example: He made up a story about why he was late.To string (someone) along: To mislead someone intentionally over time.
Example: She strung him along for months, pretending she’d invest in his project.
3. Idioms About Lies and Deceit
Idioms are colorful ways to express complex ideas. Here are some idioms related to dishonesty:
To pull the wool over (someone’s) eyes: To deceive someone.
Example: He tried to pull the wool over her eyes with his fake alibi.A pack of lies: A collection of untrue statements.
Example: The whole story turned out to be a pack of lies.To be economical with the truth: To avoid the full truth, often to mislead.
Example: The politician was economical with the truth about the funding cuts.To live a lie: To live in a way that doesn’t reflect the truth.
Example: He was living a lie, pretending to be someone he wasn’t.
4. Polite and Formal Ways to Discuss Dishonesty
In formal or polite contexts, you might use less direct terms:
To misrepresent: To present something falsely or inaccurately.
Example: The data was misrepresented in the report.To deceive: To deliberately cause someone to believe something that is not true.
Example: He deceived his clients about the quality of the product.To falsify: To alter something, such as a document, to mislead.
Example: The accountant falsified the records to hide the losses.To betray: To break trust through dishonesty.
Example: She felt betrayed when she discovered his lies.
5. Phrases to Talk About Being Deceived
When discussing the experience of being deceived, you can use these phrases:
To fall for (something): To believe a lie or deception.
Example: I can’t believe I fell for his excuses again.To be taken in by (someone/something): To be deceived.
Example: She was taken in by the scammer’s convincing story.To see through (someone/something): To recognise dishonesty.
Example: She saw through his lies immediately.
6. Conversation Starters on Lies and Deceit
If you’re practicing English or teaching it, here are some discussion prompts:
What do you think about telling white lies? Are they ever acceptable?
Have you ever been deceived by someone? How did it make you feel?
What’s the difference between a lie and a half-truth?
Why do you think people lie? Is it always wrong?
Do you think honesty is always the best policy? Why or why not?
Further Resources
Would you like to explore some authentic English materials about the subject of dishonesty and lying? Try watching one of the videos below.