IDIOMS ABOUT LIES AND DECEPTION

TO BE ECONOMICAL WITH THE TRUTH – to not tell the whole truth deliberately, hiding some details

The angel and the demon were standing on the high wall dividing Heaven from a seemingly lifeless wasteland. A man and woman who covered their nudity with leaves gradually disappeared from their field of view.

D: Didn’t you have a flaming sword? Where is it now?

A: Ahhh…somewhere…

D: Oh, don’t be economical with the truth! Did you lose it?

A: No! I gave it away!

TO GO BEHIND SOMEONE’S BACK – to do something bad secretly or without someone’s permission

D: You did whaaaat?

A: I said I gave it away! There’re so many wild animals and she’s expecting already! I couldn’t do otherwise.

D: So, does it mean you went behind your God’s back and gave away your divine weapon?

TO TELL A WHITE LIE – to tell an insignificant lie trying not to hurt someone

A: I just hope I didn’t do a very bad thing.

D: Nooo! How could you? You’re an angel.

A: Oh, you’re telling me a white lie. But thanks. I was worried all day.

TO HAVE A HIDDEN AGENDA – to have a secret reason, ulterior motives for doing something in order to get an advantage

A: By the way, what are you doing here? Don’t you have some hidden agenda regarding these poor people?

D: Oh no, not anymore. I just wanted to make a little trouble, to tease them but the joke failed.

A: Yes… Indeed.

TO PULL SOMEONE’S LEG – to say something shocking or worrying (which isn’t true) in a playful and teasing way

D: In my opinion, He’s too strict with them. I really thought he was pulling their leg saying they would be banished because of just an apple.

TO BE SMOKE AND MIRRORS – to be something that draws the attention away from the truth or obscurs it

A: The ways of God are inscrutable!

D: Yeah, sure. But isn’t it strange that a prohibited tree stands in the very center of Heaven? Why not put it on the Moon, for example? What if this apple is just smoke and mirrors?

TO SWEEP SMTH UNDER THE CARPET (RUG) – to hide or ignore something, not wanting to deal with it

A: What do you mean by this?

D: I don’t knooow…Maybe He is sweeping the REAL truth under the carpet because I see no harm in knowing the difference between evil and good.

TO THROW DUST IN SOMEONE’S EYES – to mislead someone by saying or doing something obfuscating

A: Yeah, and you threw the dust in Eve’s eyes when you said the same thing to her.

TO BEND THE TRUTH/THE FACTS – to alter some details of a story to achieve your own goals and needs

D: You angels are bending the facts! That wasn't exactly what I said. I said… that this apple was rather tasty and she probably ate it because she was hungry.

TO LIE THROUGH ONE’S TEETH – to lie shamelessly and blatantly

A: Oh, Demon! You’re lying through your teeth! So shameless!

TO PULL THE WOOL OVER SOMEONE’S EYES – to deceive or mislead someone in order to take an advantage over them or prevent them from knowing something

D: Oh, thanks for the compliment! But I actually told you the truth, there was no need to pull the wool over your eyes.

Test your knowledge of idioms about lies and deception here:

Test 1

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