Phrase guide

give the lie to

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To reveal or prove (something) to be false; to refute.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • They found plenty of emails that gave the lie to his assertion that he didn't know about the incident.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: كَذَّبَ (kaḏḏaba) — to prove (something) to be false
  • Finnish: kiistää — to prove (something) to be false
  • Finnish: osoittaa vääräksi — to prove (something) to be false
  • Māori: whakatapeha — to prove (something) to be false
  • Polish: zadawać kłam — to prove (something) to be false
  • Polish: zadać kłam — to prove (something) to be false
  • Spanish: desmentir — to prove (something) to be false