White lie
Meaning
A harmless or trivial lie told to avoid hurting someone's feelings or to maintain social harmony.
Origin
Before "white lie" became a commonplace phrase, lies were largely seen as universally bad, often referred to as "black lies." But as society grew more nuanced in its moral judgments, particularly in 18th-century England, thinkers began to notice the subtle deceptions people used out of kindness rather than malice. To distinguish these benign untruths, the color "white"—a symbol of purity, innocence, and harmlessness—was assigned. This clever linguistic contrast allowed for a lighter, more forgiving view of minor deceits, enabling people to navigate social complexities with a clearer conscience by separating malicious falsehoods from those told out of benevolence.
Examples
- I told a white lie to my friend, saying I loved her new hat, even though it wasn't really my style.
- Sometimes a white lie is necessary to prevent an awkward situation, like when you pretend to like a dish prepared by a host.