English is full of fascinating linguistic expressions like idioms. Although they are fun to use, they can be difficult to understand.
This compilation is centered around truth and lie idioms, so whether you want to talk about being honest or dishonest, these phrases will help. With each of these idioms about honesty, deception, and everything in between, you’ll find a definition and an example sentence to help you use them correctly.
Truth idioms
Let’s begin with some truth idioms. You can skip down to idioms about lying here.
The naked truth
This saying is all about plain and unvarnished truth, without any embellishments or concealments.
Just like a person who is completely exposed without any clothing, the naked truth refers to a situation or statement that is raw, unadorned, and devoid of any pretense.
“I know it may be hard to hear, but let me tell you the naked truth about what happened.”
The truth will out
The saying the truth will out suggests that no matter how hard someone tries to hide or manipulate the truth, it has a way of coming to light and becoming apparent to everyone. It will eventually be revealed or become known, regardless of attempts to conceal it.
“They thought they could keep their secret forever, but the truth will out at some point.”
The proof of the pudding is in the eating
This rather unusual proverb may be shortened to the proof is in the pudding.
Either way, it means that you can only judge the value or validity of something by experiencing it or witnessing the final results. You cannot discern the truth from opinions or outward appearances.
“I think I’ve fixed the car, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.”
“The new CEO looks good on paper, but the proof will be in the pudding.”
You can find some more strange idioms about food here.
Own up (to something)
To own up is to admit a wrongdoing or confess the truth after previously lying or concealing some information.
“Come on, kids. I know one of you kicked the ball that smashed the window. Who’s going to own up?”
“I need to own up to having an affair. I can’t bear the lies anymore.”
Truth be told
This truth idiom acts as a discourse marker to show that what you are about to say is true.
Truth be told is used to emphasize sincerity and honesty before sharing a truth or confession that may be uncomfortable or unexpected.
“Truth be told, I was the one who ate the last slice of cake!”
To tell (you) the truth
Here’s another expression that you can use to preface a true and honest statement, especially when revealing something for the first time. Beginning with to tell (you) the truth serves to highlight the sincerity of whatever follows.
“To tell the truth, I’ve always admired your talent and dedication.”
You may also hear people using the phrase to be honest in the same way.
Swear on a stack of Bibles
Truth idioms can be a fun way to emphasize your point.
Swearing on a Bible in court is one way to make a solemn oath that you will tell the truth when giving a statement. So when you say you will swear on a stack of Bibles, it’s an emphatic declaration of the truthfulness and solemness of a statement. You’re suggesting that you’re being even more truthful than you would be if speaking before a judge.
“I swear on a stack of Bibles that I had nothing to do with the missing documents. I am innocent!”
A popular variation of this truth idiom is to swear on someone’s life, whether it’s your own, your mother’s, your child’s, etc. This shows just how serious you are about being believed.
To take something as gospel
Here’s another expression related to the Bible. When someone takes something as gospel, they treat it as an unquestionable truth, believing it to be a reliable source of information.
“He took everything his professor said as gospel, never doubting the accuracy of the information.”
A half-truth
Should this phrase be in the lie idioms section or here with the other truth idioms? It’s hard to say.
A half-truth is a statement that is partially true but is also misleading or incomplete. When you tell a half-truth, you deliberately withhold or distort some information to avoid revealing the full truth.
“I wasn’t lying in my job interview when I said I’d led a major project. I just didn’t mention that it was only for one week while the real Project Manager was away. I guess it was a half-truth.”
No word of a lie
This might look like an idiom about lying, but it is actually another way to emphasize the truth.
You can add no word of a lie to the beginning, middle, or end of a statement to stress your sincerity, although it may end up having the opposite effect. It’s like saying “I’m not lying!” – but people may question why you feel the need to highlight your honesty in this way.
“I caught a fish at the weekend that was, no word of a lie, heavier than me.”
“My fiance saved up for 2 years to buy me this ring, no word of a lie.”
Come clean
This truth idiom is similar to ‘own up’; it’s about confessing to something after previously trying to conceal it.
The correct prepositions to use are come clean with someone about something, but you can use the phrase by itself.
“When are you going to come clean with Terry about your real job?”
“I’ve been hiding the truth for long enough. I think it’s time to come clean.”
This saying also features on our list of clean idioms.
As honest as the day is long
Completely and unwaveringly honest; what a wonderful way to describe someone. If they are as honest as the day is long they are seen as honorable, consistent, reliable, and virtuous.
“You can trust her with your deepest secrets. She’s as honest as the day is long.”
Lie idioms
Enough of honesty, let’s move on to some liar idioms and phrases.
Spin a yarn
This saying is a fun way to describe the action of someone who tells long, elaborate, and fictitious stories. Someone who spins a yarn is skillfully crafting a tale that is not completely true.
“He can really spin a yarn! You wouldn’t believe the incredible lies he comes up with.”
Discover some more idioms about talking here.
I’ll believe it/that when I see it
If you believe someone is lying about something or you strongly doubt that something will happen, you can say I’ll believe it (or that) when I see it. This expression conveys skepticism about something you haven’t yet witnessed for yourself.
“You’ve bought a new sports car? Really? I’ll believe that when I see it!”
“My husband told me he’s going to make more of an effort with the household chores, but I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Give the lie to something
To give the lie to something is to refute it or prove it to be false. When said of a person, it means you are accusing them of being a liar.
“Unfortunately for you, your alibi has given the lie to your statement.”
Lie through your teeth
When you lie through your teeth you tell a blatant and deliberate lie, often without hesitation or remorse. This expression implies that someone is lying boldly and blatantly.
“I caught him lying through his teeth when he denied breaking the vase, even though it was in his hands.”
Believe it or not, there are more teeth idioms as well as some featuring other facial features.
Have a forked tongue
These lying idioms are things you generally don’t want to be said about you.
A Y-shaped tongue is normally associated with serpents which, due to the story of Adam and Eve, are seen to be deceitful animals, prone to telling lies.
This is why you are said to have a forked tongue if you are often associated with deception, trickery, and dishonesty.
“Be careful around him. He has a forked tongue and can’t be trusted.”
Call someone’s bluff
When you challenge someone to prove the truth of their claims, suspecting that they are lying, you call their bluff.
“He was boasting about his parkour abilities, so I called his bluff and asked for a demonstration.”
This is also something you can do during a game of cards if you think someone is pretending they have better cards than they really do.
A pack of lies
A collection of falsehoods or a series of untruths is known as a pack of lies.
It implies that someone has fabricated an entire narrative or made numerous false statements, presenting them as a cohesive and deceitful package.
“His explanation was nothing but a pack of lies. None of it was true.”
Similar to this is a web of lies, which can be a fun spooky Halloween idiom and implies an impenetrable string of lies spun together.
Be economical with the truth
The next two lying idioms are connected, but not quite the same.
To be economical with the truth is to provide an incomplete or misleading account of the truth (a bit like telling a half-truth). It means being selective when sharing information, choosing to omit or manipulate certain details so as to present a distorted version of reality.
“She was rather economical with the truth when she claimed she had no knowledge of the incident.”
In essence, it’s just a polite idiom for lying.
A white lie
A little different from being economical with the truth, a white lie is a lie told in order to protect someone’s best interests or avoid upsetting them. Usually, the person telling a white lie considers it a small and harmless thing to lie about.
“I had to tell her a small white lie so that she didn’t find out about the suprise party today.”
“I think my new haircut looks awful but I told the hairdresser a white lie so I could get out of the salon as quickly as possible.”
We have lots of color idioms like this in English.
Lie like a rug
This wonderful play on words is the perfect introduction to the next few lie idioms which aren’t 100% about telling untruths as they make use of another meaning of the verb ‘to lie’ (to rest in a horizontal position).
However, this one cleverly incorporates both meanings at once. To lie like a rug is to shamelessly, habitually, and convincingly be dishonest. It humorously compares someone’s tendency to tell lies to a rug’s tendency to lie on the floor (i.e. it’s what it was designed for, it does nothing else).
“Don’t believe a word he says. He lies like a rug and will say anything to get what he wants.”
Lie in wait
When you lie in wait, you hide and wait for an opportune moment to act, often with the intent to deceive or harm.
“The lion lies in wait, patiently observing its prey before making a move.”
Lie low
Last on our list of lie idioms is another secretive one that refers to your posture rather than your words.
When you lie low it means you keep a quiet profile, remain hidden, or avoid drawing attention to yourself. People may do this to stay out of sight and avoid attracting suspicion, trouble, or scrutiny.
“After the scandal, she decided to lie low and stay away from the media spotlight.”
We hope you enjoyed delving into the realm of truth and lie idioms.
Did any of the expressions resonate with you personally? Which ones surprised or intrigued you the most? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below – or let us know any other truth idioms or lying idioms that should be included on this list.
