n.
An often trivial, diplomatic or well-intentioned untruth.
On this page
- Animal Life
- Business & Finance
- Cars & Vehicles
- Entertainment & Arts
- Food & Cooking
- Health
- History, Politics, Society
- Home & Garden
- Law & Legal Issues
- Literature & Language
- Miscellaneous
- Religion & Spirituality
- Science
- Sports
- Technology
- Travel & Places
- Q & A
white lie
American Heritage Dictionary:
white lie |
n.
An often trivial, diplomatic or well-intentioned untruth.
|
Featured Videos:
|
American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms:
white lie |
An untruth told to spare feelings or from politeness, as in She asked if I liked her dress, and of course I told a white lie. This term uses white in the sense of "harmless." [First half of 1700s]
Related topics:
 | white (Idiom) |
| Horseland: Cry Wolf (2006 Film) |
| Apocalypse, Push: Medium (TV Episode) (2007 Mystery TV Episode) |
Related answers:
 | What is the difference between a lie and a white lie? Read answer... |
| Is a white lie still classified a lie? Read answer... |
| Is a white lie a sin? Read answer... |
Help us answer these:
 | How old are the White Lies? |
| If white lies recited are excusable? |
| How can you tell white lie? |
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
 |
 | American Heritage Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
- Why is a white lie called a white lie?
- What are white lies?
- Are white lies good or bad?
- Example of white lie?
- Is white lie justifiable to us?
- What is white lies?
- What do white lies mean lies?
- How can you used white lie?
- Are white lies a violation or integrity?
Featured guides
Follow us
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Mentioned in
- white (Idiom)
- Horseland: Cry Wolf (2006 Film)
- Apocalypse, Push: Medium (TV Episode) (2007 Mystery TV Episode)
- The White Lie (1914 Film)
- White Lie (1991 Drama Film)
- Chain of Events (1958 Crime Film)
- The Counterfeit Constable (1966 Comedy Film)
- lie (Idiom)
- Season 12, Episode 15: The Red Skelton Hour (TV Episode) (1963 Comedy TV Episode)
- Best of Enemies: The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Episode) (1974 Comedy TV Episode)
- You Can't Arrest Me...I Don't Have a Driver's License: I Dream of Jeannie (TV Episode) (1967 Comedy TV Episode)
- Danny Converts: The Partridge Family (TV Episode) (1974 TV Episode)
- Sugarman, Joseph (Quotes By)
- Man from Mexico (1914 Film)
» More» More