Dictionary monolingual
English
Lie
laɪ
Extremely common
400 - 500
400 - 500
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
Lie -
to make a statement that one knows is not true with intent to deceive
Example: He lied about his whereabouts last night.
Usage: informalContext: everyday conversations
Note: This is the most common meaning of 'lie' and refers to intentionally saying something false.
to be in or assume a horizontal or resting position on a surface
Example: She lies down on the couch to relax.
Usage: formalContext: describing actions or positions
Note: This meaning is often used to describe physical actions or positions.
to exist or be situated
Example: The key lies on the table.
Usage: formalContext: describing locations or positions
Note: This meaning is commonly used to indicate the location of something.
Lie's synonyms
fib
To tell a small or harmless lie.
Example: She fibbed about her age to get into the club.
Note: Fib is often used to describe a minor or inconsequential lie.
fabricate
To invent or concoct a false story or information.
Example: He fabricated a story to cover up his mistake.
Note: Fabricate implies creating something false rather than simply stating an untruth.
deceive
To mislead or trick someone into believing something that is not true.
Example: She deceived her friends by pretending to be sick.
Note: Deceive suggests a deliberate intent to mislead or manipulate.
mislead
To give the wrong idea or impression, leading someone to believe something false.
Example: The advertisement misled customers about the product's effectiveness.
Note: Mislead focuses on causing someone to have a mistaken understanding or belief.
fabrication
A false statement or account, often created to deceive or mislead.
Example: The whole story turned out to be a fabrication.
Note: Fabrication can refer to the act of creating a lie or the lie itself.
Lie expressions, common phrases
Tell a white lie
To tell a harmless or small lie to avoid causing harm or offense.
Example: She told a white lie about enjoying the dinner to avoid hurting his feelings.
Note: The emphasis here is on the lie being minor or not harmful.
Lie through one's teeth
To tell a blatant and obvious lie without caring about being caught.
Example: He lied through his teeth when he said he wasn't involved in the scheme.
Note: This phrase implies a brazen and deliberate act of lying.
Give the lie to
To expose or contradict a statement or claim as false.
Example: His actions give the lie to his claims of innocence.
Note: It suggests proving a falsehood rather than just stating it.
Living a lie
To exist in a state of deception or falsehood about one's identity or situation.
Example: She felt like she was living a lie by pretending to be someone she was not.
Note: It describes a continuous state of dishonesty or falsehood.
Call someone's bluff
To challenge someone to act on their threat or prove the truth of their statement.
Example: She called his bluff and asked him to prove his claim of having insider information.
Note: While not directly about lying, it involves challenging someone's honesty or intentions.
Half-truth
A statement that is partially true but intended to deceive or mislead.
Example: He only told her a half-truth about his whereabouts last night.
Note: It involves a mix of truth and falsehood rather than a complete lie.
Lie low
To keep a low profile or stay out of sight to avoid trouble or attention.
Example: After the scandal, he decided to lie low and avoid the public eye for a while.
Note: It refers to avoiding attention or trouble rather than actively deceiving.
Lie everyday (slang) expressions
Stretch the truth
To stretch the truth means to exaggerate or embellish the facts.
Example: She tends to stretch the truth when talking about her accomplishments.
Note: This phrase implies that the truth is being distorted or exaggerated rather than completely fabricated.
Bend the truth
Bending the truth means to distort or misrepresent facts without completely lying.
Example: He likes to bend the truth when it comes to how much he spent on his new car.
Note: It suggests a slight twisting or manipulation of facts rather than outright falsehoods.
Dupe
To dupe someone means to deceive or trick them.
Example: She felt duped by his smooth talk and false promises.
Note: Being duped involves being misled or tricked without being fully aware of it at the time.
Deception
Deception refers to the act of deceiving or lying.
Example: His constant deception eventually caught up with him and he lost the trust of his friends.
Note: Deception implies deliberate or intentional deceit with the intention to mislead others.
Lie - Examples
The politician told a lie during the debate.
She caught her boyfriend in a lie.
The company was accused of producing a lie about their product.
Lie grammar
Lie - Verb (Verb) / Verb, base form (Verb, base form)
Lemma: lie
Conjugations
Noun, plural (Noun, plural): lies
Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): lie
Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): lay, lied
Verb, past participle (Verb, past participle): lied
Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): lying
Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): lies
Verb, base form (Verb, base form): lie
Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): lie
Syllables, Separation and Stress
lie Contains 1 syllables: lie
Phonetic transcription: ˈlī
lie , ˈlī (The red syllable is stressed)
Lie - Importance and usage frequency
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
lie: 400 - 500 (Extremely common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
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