Don't lie through your teeth
Meaning
To lie in a blatant, unconvincing, and often shamelessly obvious way.
Origin
The phrase "lie through your teeth" emerged in the 19th century, evolving from the older, less common expression "to lie in one's teeth." While the earlier form implied a direct and confrontational falsehood, the addition of "through" intensified the image. It conjures a vivid scene of lies being spewed out with such blatant disregard for truth that the words seem to physically push through the speaker's clenched or gritted teeth, almost a painful or forceful expulsion of dishonesty. This imagery effectively conveys not just a lie, but one delivered with a brazen, undeniable obviousness, making it clear to all that the speaker is shamelessly fabricating the truth.
Examples
- I knew he was trying to deceive me; he was lying through his teeth about where he had been all night.
- When she claimed she'd finished the entire project by herself, everyone could tell she was lying through her teeth.