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A deliberately untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result; especially, one which is judged to be better than an overhonest alternative, as for example to remain polite in a superficial social exchange, or to choose one's battles.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fib
Antonyms: none provided
an unimportant lie (especially one told to be tactful or polite)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: lie, prevarication
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
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Bulgarian:
благоро́дна лъжа́
(blagoródna lǎžá)
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Catalan:
mentida inofensiva
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Chinese Mandarin:
善意的謊言 /善意的谎言
(shànyì de huǎngyán)
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Chinese Mandarin:
白色謊言 /白色谎言
(báisè huǎngyán)
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Danish:
hvid løgn
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Dutch:
leugen om bestwil
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Finnish:
valkoinen valhe
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
French:
mensonge officieux
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
French:
pieux mensonge
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
German:
soziale Lüge
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
German:
Notlüge
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Hungarian:
kegyes hazugság
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Italian:
bugia bianca
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Italian:
bugia pietosa
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Italian:
bugia a fin di bene
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Japanese:
悪意のない嘘
(akui no nai uso)
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Japanese:
罪のない嘘
(tsumi no nai uso)
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Korean:
하얀 거짓말
(hayan geojinmal)
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Korean:
선의의 거짓말
(seonui-ui geojinmal)
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Latin:
pia fraus
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Norwegian Bokmål:
hvit løgn
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Polish:
bajer
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Portuguese:
mentira branca
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Portuguese:
mentirinha
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Russian:
неви́нная ложь
(nevínnaja ložʹ)
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Spanish:
mentirilla
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Spanish:
mentirijilla
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Spanish:
mentira piadosa
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Swedish:
vit lögn
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
-
Turkish:
beyaz yalan
— deliberate untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result
