A pack of lies
Meaning
A series of completely false statements or fabrications.
Origin
The image of a 'pack' often conjures a group—like a pack of wolves, or a pack of cards—but it also carries the older sense of a bundle or collection. This meaning has been with us since Old English, where 'pæc' referred to a package or a bundle. When we talk about 'a pack of lies,' we're not just dealing with one isolated fib; instead, we're picturing an entire, cohesive bundle of falsehoods. The phrase solidified in the English lexicon by the 18th century, making it clear that the deception is comprehensive and deliberate—an entire 'package' of untruths delivered with intent.
Examples
- When the politician finally addressed the accusations, his entire speech turned out to be a pack of lies.
- She was furious after discovering that everything her new friend had told her about their background was a pack of lies.