Lie
verb / noun Base: lie | Past: lied | Past Participle: lied | -ing: lying | 3rd person: lies
Definition
1. To say something untrue to deceive someone.
2. A false statement.
2. A false statement.
Context Alive
The teacher asked who had broken the window. Everyone stayed silent. Then one boy lied and said he saw a bird fly into it, hoping to protect his friend who had kicked a ball through the glass.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 To Say Something Untrue to Deceive (Verb) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about deliberately saying something false. Imagine a teenager coming home two hours late and telling his parents the bus broke down — when really he was at a friend’s house. This is lying to avoid trouble. You might say “don’t lie to me — I know the truth” or someone could say “she lied about her age on the application.” Or picture an employee who lied about being sick just to get a day off work. The word carries a strong sense of dishonesty and broken trust. ✏️ The past tense is “lied” — don’t confuse it with lie¹ (recline), where the past tense is “lay.”
Vivid ExampleThe little girl had chocolate all over her face. When her mother asked if she had eaten the cake, she lied and said she hadn’t touched it. Her face told a completely different story.
2 A False Statement (Noun) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about the false statement itself. Imagine reading a politician’s speech and realizing half of it is full of lies — promises that were never true. This is calling something a lie. You might hear “that’s a complete lie” or someone could say “I’m tired of all the lies.” Or think about a friend discovering that everything their partner told them was a lie. The word suggests deliberate dishonesty, not just a mistake. ✏️ “Tell a lie” is the most natural combination — we say “tell a lie,” not “say a lie.”
Vivid ExampleThe journalist spent months investigating the company’s claims. One by one, she proved that every statement was a lie designed to mislead investors. Her report made headlines across the country.
Examples from the Street
“Don’t lie to me — I saw the messages on your phone.”
Don’t try to deceive me — I noticed the texts on your mobile
“That’s a complete lie!”
That’s totally untrue! / That never happened!
“I just told a little white lie — I said I liked her haircut.”
I said something slightly untrue to be kind — I pretended her new hairstyle looked good
Common Patterns
lie to [someone] → say something untrue to a person
lie about [something] → give false information about a topic
lie to [someone’s] face → deceive someone directly and shamelessly
wouldn’t lie to you → used to insist you’re being honest
lie under oath → give false testimony in court (perjury)
be lying → accuse someone of not telling the truth right now
tell a lie → say something untrue
a white lie → a harmless untruth told to be polite or kind
a big/complete lie → a serious, total falsehood
a pack of lies → everything someone said is untrue
live a lie → pretend your life is something it’s not
Collocations
3 collocationslie down
place yourself in a flat, resting position
lie in wait
hide and wait to surprise someone
lie low
stay hidden and avoid attracting attention
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
Don’t lie to me — I know exactly where you were last night
Don’t try to deceive me — I’m fully aware of where you spent yesterday evening.
2
He lied about his qualifications to get the job
He gave false information about his credentials to secure the position.
3
She lied to my face and said she hadn’t taken my jacket
She deceived me directly and claimed she hadn’t grabbed my coat.
4
I wouldn’t lie to you — this is genuinely the best restaurant in town
I’m being completely honest — this is truly the finest place to eat in the area.
5
The witness lied under oath, which could lead to a prison sentence
The person giving testimony made false statements in court, which could result in jail time.
6
I think he’s lying — his story doesn’t add up
I believe he’s being dishonest — his version of events doesn’t make sense.
7
She told a lie about where she’d been all evening
She made a false statement about her whereabouts for the whole night.
8
It was just a white lie — I told him his presentation was great
It was only a harmless untruth — I said his talk was impressive to spare his feelings.
9
Don’t believe a word he says — it’s a pack of lies
Don’t trust anything he tells you — every bit of it is untrue.
10
For years, he lived a lie, pretending to go to work every morning when he’d actually been fired
For years, he kept up a false pretence, acting as though he went to his job daily when he’d actually been dismissed.
Learner Examples
★
Some students lie about doing their homework and say they left it at home when they never did it at all
Certain learners give false excuses about their assignments and claim they forgot them when they never completed the work.
★
A language teacher sometimes has to tell a white lie — saying “That was great!” to a struggling student just to keep their confidence up
An instructor occasionally has to say something slightly untrue — like “Well done!” to a learner having difficulty, simply to maintain their self-belief.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
4 items
Phrasal Verbslie down — recline in horizontal position
I need to lie down for a bit — I have a headache.
lie around — rest lazily doing nothing
We spent the whole Sunday lying around watching movies.
lie in — stay in bed late
On weekends, I love to lie in until noon.
Idioms & Expressionslie low — hide and avoid attention
After the argument, he decided to lie low for a few days.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsdeceive
mislead someone
fib
tell a small lie
fabricate
make up a story
mislead
give wrong impression
Antonymstell the truth
be honest
be honest
speak truthfully