Question

in_the_loop_777 a minor, polite, or harmless lie Similar to: stretch the truth

Accepted Answer

WHITE LIE When Jenny’s parents asked her where she had gone, she told them she had been at the library, but she didn’t tell them that she had also gone to the movies. She told her parents a white lie.When Carol asked me what I thought of her new dress, I told her she looked good in it. I didn’t really like the dress, but since I did not want to hurt Carol’s feelings I told her a little white lie. The expression suggests that a white lie is an innocent or inconsequential lie.

Id	in_the_loop_777
Idiom	WHITE LIE
Definition	a minor, polite, or harmless lie
Examples	When Jenny’s parents asked her where she had gone, she told them she had been at the library, but she didn’t tell them that she had also gone to the movies. She told her parents a white lie. When Carol asked me what I thought of her new dress, I told her she looked good in it. I didn’t really like the dress, but since I did not want to hurt Carol’s feelings I told her a little white lie.
Cross-Refs	Similar to: stretch the truth
Extra Info	The expression suggests that a white lie is an innocent or inconsequential lie.

Lie I White Told Parents Asked Didn’t Dress