60+ Sneaky Idioms for Lying That’ll Blow Your Mind

Ever wondered how many creative ways people talk about lying? From “pulling your leg” to “spinning a yarn,” the English language is packed with colorful expressions for dishonesty. These idioms for lying help us describe everything from harmless white lies to serious deception in ways that are both memorable and fun to use.

Research Shows How Common Lying Really Is

Studies reveal some fascinating facts about deception in our daily lives. Research shows that people tell an average of one to two lies per day, making dishonesty a surprisingly common part of human communication1. Scientists have found that children as young as two and a half years old are capable of deception, with 62% of toddlers in one study showing some form of lying behavior2.

Linguistic Analysis of Lying

Characteristic	Truth-tellers	Liars
Word count	More words	Fewer words
Self-references	More “I” statements	Fewer “I” statements
Emotion words	Balanced emotions	More negative emotions
Story complexity	More detailed	Less complex
Concrete details	Balanced mix	More concrete, less abstract

Research from advanced textual analysis shows that liars construct shorter, less elaborate stories and use more concrete language due to the cognitive load of creating false narratives1.

Research from Frontiers in Psychology found that men lied more and were more successful lie-tellers than women in face-to-face interactions1. Meanwhile, studies published in the British Journal of Social Psychology revealed that lying comes with a psychological cost – both self-centered and other-oriented lies decreased self-esteem and increased negative emotions in the liar2.

“The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.” – Leonardo da Vinci3

Now let’s explore the colorful world of lying idioms that help us describe this very human behavior.

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1. Pull Someone’s Leg

This classic idiom means to tease or joke with someone by playfully telling a lie4. It’s one of the friendliest ways to describe fibbing.

“Don’t believe him, he’s just pulling your leg about the new video game release date.”4

The beauty of this expression is that it suggests the lie is harmless and meant in good fun. You’re not trying to hurt anyone – just having a little laugh.

2. Tell a Fib

A fib is a small or harmless lie4. It’s like lying’s little cousin – not quite as serious as a full-blown deception.

“She fibbed about finishing her homework before dinner.”4

Parents often use this word with kids because it sounds less harsh than “lie.” It’s perfect for those tiny untruths we all tell sometimes.

3. Lie Through Your Teeth

When someone lies boldly and without remorse, they’re lying through their teeth5. This person isn’t just stretching the truth – they’re telling whopping lies while looking you straight in the eye.

“She lied through her teeth when she said she hadn’t seen the email.”5

This idiom paints a vivid picture. Imagine lies literally coming through someone’s teeth – that’s some serious dishonesty right there.

4. Barefaced Liar

A barefaced liar is someone who lies openly and shamelessly5. They don’t even try to hide their dishonesty.

“He’s a barefaced liar—you can’t believe anything he says.”5

The word “barefaced” suggests someone who doesn’t cover up or hide their lying. Their dishonesty is right there for everyone to see.

5. Cry Wolf

This idiom comes from the famous fable. To cry wolf means to raise a false alarm or give a false warning4, making it hard for people to trust you later.

“Stop crying wolf or nobody will believe you when there’s a real emergency.”4

It’s a perfect example of how repeated lying can backfire. The boy who cried wolf learned this lesson the hard way.

6. Weave a Web of Lies

When someone constructs a complex network of deceitful stories, they’re weaving a web of lies4. It’s like a spider spinning an intricate trap.

“He wove a web of lies to cover up his involvement in the prank.”4

This idiom suggests that lies can become complicated and interconnected. One lie often leads to another, creating a tangled mess.

7. A Lie Has No Legs

This clever saying means a lie cannot stand or survive long because it lacks truth to support it5. Without truth as a foundation, lies eventually collapse.

“He told so many stories, but in the end, a lie has no legs.”5

It’s a beautiful metaphor. Just like a person needs legs to stand, a story needs truth to last.

8. Whitewash

To whitewash means to conceal or gloss over flaws or wrongdoing by presenting a misleadingly positive image4. It’s like painting over rust – the problem is still there, just hidden.

“The company tried to whitewash its history of environmental violations.”4

This idiom originally came from literally painting over things with white paint to make them look clean and new.

9. Put on a False Front

This means to act or appear in a way that’s not genuine, often to deceive others4. It’s like wearing a mask of lies.

“She put on a false front of confidence even though she was nervous inside.”4

We all put on false fronts sometimes, but when it becomes a habit, it can be a form of lying to ourselves and others.

10. Speaking with a Forked Tongue

This idiom means lying deliberately or being deceitful in speech5. The image comes from snakes, which have forked tongues.

“Politicians are often accused of speaking with forked tongues.”5

The snake comparison isn’t accidental – it suggests someone is sneaky and untrustworthy, just like the serpent in many stories.

11. Talking Out of Both Sides of Your Mouth

When someone says contradictory things to different people to manipulate or mislead, they’re talking out of both sides of their mouth5.

“She’s talking out of both sides of her mouth—telling one group yes, the other no.”5

This creates a funny mental image of someone literally speaking from both sides of their mouth at once. It’s physically impossible, just like keeping contradictory lies straight.

12. Smoke Screen

A smoke screen is a distraction or false appearance meant to cover up the truth5. Like actual smoke, it obscures what’s really happening.

“The flashy project was just a smoke screen for deeper financial problems.”5

Military forces use actual smoke screens to hide their movements. This idiom applies the same concept to deception.

13. Full of Beans

While this might sound silly, being full of beans means telling things that are completely untrue or foolish6. It’s a playful way to call someone out on their nonsense.

“She claimed to have seen a UFO, but I thought her story was full of beans.”6

The phrase suggests someone is full of something worthless – like beans instead of sense.

14. Economical with the Truth

This polite British phrase means telling only part of the truth or being vague in speech6. It’s a diplomatic way to say someone’s lying without being too harsh.

Politicians love this phrase because it sounds better than admitting they lied outright.

15. Live a Lie

To live a lie means to have a life built on lies and deception6. It’s one of the saddest forms of dishonesty because it affects everything.

This goes beyond telling occasional fibs – it’s about building your entire existence on false foundations.

16. Spin a Tale

When someone tells a story that’s exaggerated or completely made up, they’re spinning a tale6. The word “spin” suggests they’re creating something from thin air.

“She spun a yarn about her encounter with a mythical creature.”6

Like spinning thread, the storyteller weaves together fictional elements to create their narrative.

17. Pack of Lies

A pack of lies is any statement that’s not true at all6. The word “pack” suggests there are multiple lies bundled together.

It’s like getting a package deal – but instead of savings, you get dishonesty.

18. Bold-Faced Lie

Similar to barefaced, a bold-faced lie is told with complete shamelessness7. The liar shows no embarrassment or guilt about their dishonesty.

These liars have nerves of steel – they’ll look you right in the eye and lie without flinching.

19. Little White Lie

A little white lie is a small lie that doesn’t cause harm, especially one told to avoid upsetting someone6. These are generally considered more acceptable than other lies.

“I told a little white lie about liking her haircut.”

The “white” suggests purity or innocence – these lies come from good intentions.

20. Sugar-Coat

To sugar-coat means to make something unpleasant seem better than it is8. It’s like putting sweet coating on bitter medicine.

This isn’t always dishonest – sometimes we sugar-coat things to be kind. But it can cross into lying territory.

21. Come Clean

This means to finally tell the truth after hiding it8. It suggests washing away the dirt of deception.

“He finally came clean about breaking the window.”

The cleaning metaphor implies that lies make us dirty, and truth washes us clean.

22. Pull the Wool Over Someone’s Eyes

To pull the wool over someone’s eyes means to deceive or trick them89. It creates an image of literally blinding someone with wool.

This idiom suggests the victim can’t see what’s really happening because they’ve been fooled.

23. Bluff Your Way Into Something

Bluffing your way into something means using deception or pretense to gain access to something you don’t deserve8.

“He bluffed his way into the exclusive party.”

The term comes from poker, where players bluff about having good cards when they don’t.

24. Call Someone Out on a Lie

This means to directly confront someone about their dishonesty8. You’re not letting them get away with it.

It takes courage to call someone out – you’re essentially saying “I know you’re lying.”

25. Be Full of It

A casual way to say someone is telling lies or talking nonsense8. It’s more polite than some alternatives but still gets the point across.

The “it” refers to something unpleasant that we don’t want to name directly.

26. Play Fast and Loose

To play fast and loose means to behave dishonestly or recklessly, often by disregarding rules or commitments4.

“You can’t trust him; he likes to play fast and loose with the truth.”4

This suggests someone who doesn’t take honesty seriously – they treat truth like a game.

27. Hide Behind a Smile

This means to conceal your true emotions or intentions under a pleasant demeanor5. The smile becomes a mask for deception.

“He hid behind a smile while delivering bad news.”5

Sometimes the most dangerous lies come with the biggest smiles.

28. Lied to My Face

This phrase emphasizes the audacity of lying directly to someone while looking them in the eyes5. It’s particularly hurtful because of the personal nature.

“I can’t believe she lied to my face about where she was last night.”5

The face-to-face aspect makes the lie feel more personal and insulting.

29. Stretch the Truth

To stretch the truth means to exaggerate or bend facts without telling complete lies9. It’s like pulling taffy – you’re changing the shape without changing the basic material.

This is often seen as less serious than outright lying, though it’s still dishonest.

30. Bend the Facts

Similar to stretching the truth, bending the facts means saying something not completely true to achieve a goal9. You’re twisting reality to fit your needs.

Facts should be straight and solid, but some people like to bend them like flexible rules.

31. Ring True

When something rings true, it gives the impression of being honest9. It’s the opposite of most idioms on this list.

“His explanation doesn’t ring true to me.”

The phrase comes from testing coins – real ones ring with a clear sound when dropped.

32. See Right Through Someone

This means to understand the truth about someone despite their attempts to deceive9. You’re not fooled by their act.

Some people are like glass – you can see right through their lies.

33. Monkey Business

Monkey business refers to dishonest actions or behavior intended to trick someone9. It suggests playful but potentially harmful mischief.

Monkeys are known for being tricky and mischievous, hence the comparison.

34. Nothing Could Be Further from the Truth

This emphatic phrase means something is a complete lie9. It’s a strong way to deny false accusations.

It suggests the lie is so far from reality that there’s an enormous distance between them.

35. Funny Business

Similar to monkey business, funny business refers to dishonest actions meant to trick people9. The “funny” doesn’t mean humorous – it means suspicious.

“I suspect there’s some funny business going on with those numbers.”

36. Spill Your Guts

This colorful American slang means to tell someone everything you know9, usually the truth after hiding it.

The graphic imagery suggests someone literally emptying their insides – in this case, of secrets and lies.

37. In All Honesty

This phrase means to tell you the truth, especially when the truth isn’t pleasant to hear9. It’s often used before admitting something difficult.

Ironically, when someone says “in all honesty,” it sometimes makes you wonder if they weren’t being honest before.

38. If Truth Be Told

If truth be told means to be honest about something9. It’s an old-fashioned way to introduce a truthful statement.

This phrase suggests that truth is something special that needs to be announced.

39. Play Games

To play games means to try to deceive someone through manipulation or dishonesty9. You’re treating serious matters like entertainment.

“Stop playing games and tell me what really happened.”

40. Lie Like a Rug

This funny idiom means someone lies constantly and obviously7. Rugs lie flat on the floor – they don’t move or change, just like some people’s commitment to dishonesty.

It’s a humorous way to describe someone who lies so much it’s become their default mode.

41. Lie Like a Trooper

Similar to lying like a rug, this means someone lies frequently and skillfully7. Troopers (soldiers) were sometimes stereotyped as being good at tall tales.

42. Couldn’t Lie Straight in Bed

This British idiom describes someone who lies so much they can’t even be honest about simple things7. Even in bed – the most natural, comfortable position – they’d somehow manage to be dishonest.

It’s an exaggerated way to say someone is completely untrustworthy.

43. Tell a Tall Tale

A tall tale is an exaggerated or unbelievable story10. These aren’t meant to deceive seriously – they’re more like entertaining lies.

“He told a tall tale about catching a fish as big as a car.”

The “tall” suggests something that stretches up beyond normal size, just like these exaggerated stories.

44. Fish Story

Similar to tall tales, a fish story is an exaggerated account, especially about the size of something10. It comes from fishermen exaggerating their catches.

“That sounds like a fish story to me.”10

Every fisherman knows that the fish that got away was always bigger than the ones they caught.

45. Telling Porkies

This British slang means telling lies10. A “porky” is short for “pork pie,” which rhymes with “lie” in Cockney rhyming slang.

It’s a playful way to accuse someone of dishonesty without being too harsh.

46. Load of Bull

This means something is complete nonsense or lies. It’s a polite way to say something stronger and more offensive.

“His excuse was a complete load of bull.”

The barnyard reference suggests something smelly and worthless.

47. Cock and Bull Story

A cock and bull story is an absurd, unbelievable tale7. It’s so ridiculous that nobody should believe it.

The phrase combines two animals known for making noise – suggesting the story is all noise and no substance.

48. Blow Smoke

To blow smoke means to deceive someone with false or exaggerated statements. Like actual smoke, these statements obscure the truth.

“He’s just blowing smoke about his connections to celebrities.”

49. Snow Job

A snow job is an attempt to deceive someone with elaborate lies or flattery. Like being buried in snow, the victim gets overwhelmed by the deception.

This American slang suggests covering someone with so much false information they can’t see through it.

50. Feed Someone a Line

This means to tell someone something untrue to deceive them11. You’re literally feeding them lies like food.

The “line” might come from fishing – you’re baiting someone with false information.

51. Make Something Up

To make something up means to invent a story or excuse that isn’t true11. You’re creating fiction and presenting it as fact.

“I think you’re just making that up.”

52. Lie Doggo

This British expression means to stay hidden or keep quiet, often to avoid telling the truth7. A dog lying down stays still and quiet.

53. Nail a Lie

To nail a lie means to prove that something is false7. You’re pinning down the dishonesty so it can’t escape.

Like nailing a piece of wood in place, you’re making the lie’s falseness permanent and obvious.

54. Put the Lie To

This formal phrase means to prove that something is false7. You’re demonstrating that a claim is dishonest.

55. Give the Lie To

Similar to “put the lie to,” this means to show that something is false7. You’re exposing the dishonesty.

56. Lie at Someone’s Door

This means to be someone’s responsibility or fault7. The lie is sitting right at their doorstep – they can’t avoid ownership.

57. Lie Low

To lie low means to stay hidden or avoid attention7, often to avoid having to tell the truth or face consequences.

“After the scandal broke, he decided to lie low for a while.”

58. That Ain’t No Lie

This double negative actually means something is definitely true7. It’s an emphatic way to confirm honesty.

Despite being about lying, this phrase actually emphasizes truth.

59. No Lie

Similar to “that ain’t no lie,” this phrase means something is genuinely true7. You’re emphasizing your honesty.

“No lie, I actually saw a celebrity at the grocery store.”

60. The Big Lie

The big lie refers to a major falsehood told repeatedly until people start believing it7. It’s often used in political contexts.

This concept shows how powerful repeated lies can become.

61. Dirty Lie

A dirty lie is a particularly nasty or harmful falsehood7. It’s not just dishonest – it’s meant to hurt someone.

The “dirty” suggests something unclean and morally wrong.

62. Filthy Lie

Even worse than a dirty lie, a filthy lie is extremely offensive and harmful7. It’s the worst kind of dishonesty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What’s the difference between a fib and a lie?
A: A fib is generally considered a small, harmless lie, while a lie can be more serious and potentially harmful. Fibs are often told to spare someone’s feelings or avoid minor trouble4.

Q: Are “white lies” really okay to tell?
A: White lies are generally more socially acceptable because they’re meant to protect someone’s feelings rather than for personal gain. However, research shows that even well-intentioned lies can have psychological costs for the liar2.

Q: Why do we have so many idioms about lying?
A: Lying is a universal human behavior that comes in many forms – from harmless jokes to serious deception. Having multiple idioms helps us express different types and degrees of dishonesty1145.

Q: Do men and women lie differently?
A: Research suggests that men lie more frequently and are more successful at lying than women, though both genders experience negative psychological effects from lying12.

Q: Can using these idioms help me sound more natural in English?
A: Yes! Idioms are an important part of natural English conversation. However, make sure you understand the context and appropriateness of each idiom before using it12.

Conclusion

The English language’s rich collection of lying idioms reveals something fascinating about human nature – we need many different ways to talk about dishonesty because it comes in so many forms. From playful leg-pulling to serious deception, these colorful expressions help us navigate the complex world of truth and lies.

Here’s a bonus insight: While these idioms are fun to learn and use, remember that research consistently shows lying has psychological costs. Even when lies go undetected, they decrease self-esteem and increase negative emotions in the liar2. So while you’re mastering these entertaining expressions, consider using them more for understanding others than for your own deceptive purposes.

The next time someone tries to pull the wool over your eyes or tells you a cock and bull story, you’ll not only recognize their dishonesty – you’ll have dozens of creative ways to call them out on it. Just remember: with great idiom power comes great responsibility to use it wisely!