barefaced lie
Idioms-
A shameless falsehood. For example, Bill could tell a barefaced lie with a straight face. The adjective barefaced means “beardless,” and one theory is that in the 1500s this condition was considered brazen in all but the youngest males. By the late 1600s barefaced also meant “brazen” or “bold,” the meaning alluded to in this phrase.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr Khan's spokesperson previously said the circulated leaflets "peddle a barefaced lie".
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2024
Elizabeth still hoped to avoid outright conflict with Spain and put about the barefaced lie that he had limped home empty-handed.
From New York Times • Mar. 10, 2021
"The cheque's in the post" still works, even though it is nine times out of 10 a barefaced lie.
From The Guardian • Jun. 29, 2010
“I—I—I,” I stammered, not knowing what to reply to this, as I did not like to tell him a barefaced lie in cold blood offhand— “I’ve hurt my arm, sir.”
From Young Tom Bowling The Boys of the British Navy by Greene, John B.
He wrote letters containing the barefaced lie that he intended to attack New York when he intended to attack Cornwallis.
From Stand By The Union by Bridgman, L. J. (Lewis Jesse)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.