Have you ever heard someone say, “He’s spinning a yarn” or “It’s all smoke and mirrors” and felt completely lost? These are idioms about lying—colorful expressions that native English speakers use to describe dishonesty, deception, or pretending.
In this guide, you’ll discover 43 common idioms related to lying. For each one, you’ll learn what it means, see two longer example sentences where the idiom is used naturally, and get other ways to express the same idea. This will help you understand real conversations, movies, and books better.
At the end, you’ll find exercises and a quiz to help you practice and remember these idioms in a fun way.
Let’s dive into the world of lies, tricks, and tall tales!
43 Idioms About Lying
A likely story
Meaning: A sarcastic way to say you don’t believe what someone just said.
In a Sentence
Example 1: When James said he missed the test because his cat was sick, the teacher replied, “A likely story!”
Example 2: “You just happened to find that money on the ground? A likely story! I’m not buying it.”
Other Ways to Say: Yeah, right; That sounds made up; I doubt it
All smoke and mirrors
Meaning: Something that looks impressive or true, but is actually false or misleading
In a Sentence
Example 1: The politician’s promises turned out to be all smoke and mirrors—nothing real behind them.
Example 2: The company’s success was all smoke and mirrors, hiding years of debt and failure.
Other Ways to Say: Illusion; Deception; Trickery
Beat around the bush
Meaning: To avoid saying something directly, especially when lying or hiding the truth
In a Sentence
Example 1: Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth—did you break the vase?
Example 2: Instead of answering directly, he beat around the bush for five minutes.
Other Ways to Say: Avoid the point; Dodge the question; Stall
Bend the truth
Meaning: To say something that is not completely true; to twist facts
In a Sentence
Example 1: She bent the truth about why she was late—she didn’t want to admit she overslept.
Example 2: Politicians often bend the truth to make their ideas sound better.
Other Ways to Say: Twist the truth; Exaggerate; Mislead
Cat got your tongue?
Meaning: A question you ask someone when they’re suddenly silent, especially if hiding something
In a Sentence
Example 1: When I asked where he had been all night, he just stared. I said, “Cat got your tongue?”
Example 2: She didn’t know how to answer and stood frozen—“Cat got your tongue?” her mom asked.
Other Ways to Say: Why so quiet?; Don’t want to talk?; Speechless?
Cook the books
Meaning: To change financial records dishonestly
In a Sentence
Example 1: The accountant was fired because he cooked the books to make the company look profitable.
Example 2: They were cooking the books for years before the government found out.
Other Ways to Say: Falsify accounts; Commit fraud; Cheat financially
Cover one’s tracks
Meaning: To hide what one has done
In a Sentence
Example 1: After deleting the emails, she also cleared her browser history to cover her tracks.
Example 2: He covered his tracks by lying to everyone involved.
Other Ways to Say: Hide the evidence; Erase signs; Conceal actions
Crocodile tears
Meaning: Fake tears or sadness
In a Sentence
Example 1: He cried crocodile tears at the trial, but the judge saw right through him.
Example 2: Don’t believe her sob story—it’s just crocodile tears to get attention.
Other Ways to Say: Fake emotion; Insincere sadness; Pretend to care
Cry wolf
Meaning: To raise a false alarm so often that no one believes you anymore
In a Sentence
Example 1: After she cried wolf too many times about being sick, no one believed her when she really was.
Example 2: Don’t cry wolf unless it’s true—people will stop trusting you.
Other Ways to Say: Lie repeatedly; Fake emergency; False warning
Dressed up to the nines
Meaning: To be dressed very elegantly, often hiding the truth about who you really are
In a Sentence
Example 1: He was dressed up to the nines, but behind the suit, he was a con artist.
Example 2: She looked dressed to the nines, trying to impress, but it felt like a disguise.
Other Ways to Say: In fancy clothes; Glamorous; All dolled up
Economical with the truth
Meaning: To not tell the whole truth
In a Sentence
Example 1: The manager was economical with the truth when he said the company was fine.
Example 2: Being economical with the truth is still lying, even if you don’t say anything false.
Other Ways to Say: Withhold information; Say half-truths; Be vague
Fakery
Meaning: The act of faking or pretending
In a Sentence
Example 1: The social media influencer was all fakery—her lifestyle was a lie.
Example 2: He fooled everyone with his fakery, pretending to be an expert.
Other Ways to Say: Pretending; Deception; False image
False pretenses
Meaning: Lying about your identity or purpose
In a Sentence
Example 1: She entered the event under false pretenses, saying she was part of the media.
Example 2: He got the loan under false pretenses, and now he’s in legal trouble.
Other Ways to Say: Fake reason; Dishonest entry; Deceptive excuse
Fishy story
Meaning: A suspicious or hard-to-believe story
In a Sentence
Example 1: His story about being robbed by a monkey sounded like a fishy story.
Example 2: That fishy story about aliens didn’t fool anyone.
Other Ways to Say: Suspicious tale; Hard to believe; Doesn’t add up
Flying under false colors
Meaning: Pretending to be something you’re not
In a Sentence
Example 1: The scammer was flying under false colors, acting like a charity worker.
Example 2: He flew under false colors to gain her trust and steal her money.
Other Ways to Say: Disguise; False identity; Pretend role
Full of hot air
Meaning: Always talking but saying nothing true or useful
In a Sentence
Example 1: That politician is full of hot air—all promises, no results.
Example 2: He talks like he knows everything, but he’s just full of hot air.
Other Ways to Say: Empty talk; Bluffing; Nonsense
Give a false impression
Meaning: To make someone believe something that isn’t true
In a Sentence
Example 1: She gave a false impression of being rich by renting expensive clothes.
Example 2: He tried to give a false impression that he had a lot of experience.
Other Ways to Say: Mislead; Fake image; Pretend
Gild the lily
Meaning: To add unnecessary lies or exaggeration to something already good
In a Sentence
Example 1: The resume was strong, but he gilded the lily by lying about his degree.
Example 2: She gilded the lily in her speech, making it sound more emotional than it really was.
Other Ways to Say: Exaggerate; Embellish; Overdo it
Have something to hide
Meaning: To act suspiciously because of guilt
In a Sentence
Example 1: The way he avoided eye contact made it clear he had something to hide.
Example 2: She wouldn’t let anyone see her phone—it seemed like she had something to hide.
Other Ways to Say: Be secretive; Be guilty; Hide the truth
In sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Someone who seems nice or innocent but is actually dangerous
In a Sentence
Example 1: That charming man turned out to be a thief in sheep’s clothing.
Example 2: The new employee seemed helpful, but he was really a spy in sheep’s clothing.
Other Ways to Say: Fake friend; Hidden enemy; Deceptive appearance
Lead someone down the garden path
Meaning: To deceive someone by making them believe something false
In a Sentence
Example 1: He led her down the garden path with promises of love, but he was already married.
Example 2: They led investors down the garden path with fake numbers and big dreams.
Other Ways to Say: Mislead; Trick; Deceive
Live a charade
Meaning: To pretend everything is okay or real when it’s not
In a Sentence
Example 1: She lived a charade of a happy marriage while hiding her sadness.
Example 2: He lived a charade at work, acting confident even though he was lost.
Other Ways to Say: Pretend; Fake it; Put on a show
Look someone straight in the eye
Meaning: To lie while acting very honest
In a Sentence
Example 1: He looked me straight in the eye and said he didn’t cheat, but I knew he was lying.
Example 2: You looked me straight in the eye and still told me something that wasn’t true.
Other Ways to Say: Lie with confidence; Hide guilt; Act honest
Nothing but a fabrication
Meaning: Something that is completely made up or false
In a Sentence
Example 1: His whole story was nothing but a fabrication to avoid getting in trouble.
Example 2: The witness’s testimony turned out to be nothing but a fabrication.
Other Ways to Say: A lie; A fake story; Not true
On the fiddle
Meaning: Involved in cheating or dishonesty, especially with money
In a Sentence
Example 1: The store owner was on the fiddle, charging customers more and keeping the extra.
Example 2: He was caught on the fiddle after years of stealing from the company.
Other Ways to Say: Cheating; Dishonest; Committing fraud
Pull a fast one
Meaning: To trick someone quickly and cleverly
In a Sentence
Example 1: He pulled a fast one on his friend by swapping the real tickets with fake ones.
Example 2: Don’t try to pull a fast one on me—I’ve seen this trick before.
Other Ways to Say: Trick; Fool; Deceive
Pull the wool over someone’s eyes
Meaning: To fool someone into not seeing the truth
In a Sentence
Example 1: She pulled the wool over his eyes and took all his money.
Example 2: They tried to pull the wool over our eyes, but we caught the lie.
Other Ways to Say: Deceive; Hide the truth; Mislead
Put on an act
Meaning: To pretend to be something you’re not
In a Sentence
Example 1: He put on an act of being kind, but he only wanted something in return.
Example 2: She put on an act in front of the boss to look more professional.
Other Ways to Say: Pretend; Fake behavior; Act falsely
Put on a brave face
Meaning: To pretend everything is fine when it’s not
In a Sentence
Example 1: Even though he was hurting, he put on a brave face and smiled through the meeting.
Example 2: She put on a brave face after failing the exam, but I knew she was upset.
Other Ways to Say: Hide emotions; Act strong; Fake calmness
Sell a bill of goods
Meaning: To lie or trick someone into believing or buying something false
In a Sentence
Example 1: The car salesman sold me a bill of goods—the car broke down a week later.
Example 2: They sold investors a bill of goods, promising quick profits that never came.
Other Ways to Say: Trick; Scam; Deceive with a story
Shady character
Meaning: A person who seems dishonest or suspicious
In a Sentence
Example 1: I don’t trust that man—he’s a shady character always hiding something.
Example 2: She hangs out with some shady characters who lie and steal.
Other Ways to Say: Suspicious person; Dishonest person; Sketchy type
Snake in the grass
Meaning: A person who pretends to be friendly but secretly betrays others
In a Sentence
Example 1: He acted like my friend, but he was a snake in the grass, spreading lies about me.
Example 2: You never see a snake in the grass coming until it’s too late.
Other Ways to Say: Backstabber; Traitor; Fake friend
Speak with a forked tongue
Meaning: To say one thing but mean another; to lie
In a Sentence
Example 1: The leader spoke with a forked tongue, promising peace while preparing for war.
Example 2: Don’t trust her—she speaks with a forked tongue and says what people want to hear.
Other Ways to Say: Be dishonest; Say one thing, mean another; Lie
Spin a yarn
Meaning: To tell a long, made-up story
In a Sentence
Example 1: Grandpa loved to spin a yarn about his adventures that probably never happened.
Example 2: He spun a yarn about being in the army, but none of it was true.
Other Ways to Say: Tell a tall tale; Make up a story; Lie for fun
Stretch the truth
Meaning: To exaggerate or slightly lie
In a Sentence
Example 1: He stretched the truth about how many books he read to impress his teacher.
Example 2: She stretched the truth when she said she had experience—she had only read one article.
Other Ways to Say: Exaggerate; Embellish; Bend the truth
Take for a ride
Meaning: To trick or cheat someone
In a Sentence
Example 1: The scammer took him for a ride by pretending to be from the bank.
Example 2: I paid too much for that phone—they really took me for a ride.
Other Ways to Say: Fool; Rip off; Deceive
Talking poppycock
Meaning: Talking nonsense or lies
In a Sentence
Example 1: That explanation is just poppycock—no one believes it.
Example 2: Stop talking poppycock! You know that story makes no sense.
Other Ways to Say: Nonsense; Lies; Rubbish
Tell a tall tale
Meaning: To tell a story that is exaggerated or unbelievable
In a Sentence
Example 1: My cousin always tells tall tales about catching giant fish.
Example 2: That was such a tall tale—you didn’t really meet a celebrity at the grocery store!
Other Ways to Say: Exaggerate; Lie; Invent a story
Throw dust in someone’s eyes
Meaning: To mislead or confuse someone so they don’t see the truth
In a Sentence
Example 1: The company threw dust in the investors’ eyes by hiding financial problems.
Example 2: He threw dust in my eyes with sweet words to distract from his cheating.
Other Ways to Say: Confuse; Distract from truth; Mislead
Two-faced
Meaning: Someone who acts nice in front of you but speaks badly behind your back
In a Sentence
Example 1: I thought she was my friend, but she’s two-faced and gossips about me.
Example 2: Don’t trust him—he’s two-faced and changes depending on who’s watching.
Other Ways to Say: Dishonest; Fake friend; Backstabber
Under a cloud
Meaning: To be under suspicion or not trusted
In a Sentence
Example 1: The mayor is under a cloud after the corruption scandal.
Example 2: Ever since the lie, he’s been under a cloud at work.
Other Ways to Say: Distrusted; Suspected; In doubt
Weave a web of deceit
Meaning: To create a complex set of lies
In a Sentence
Example 1: She wove a web of deceit to cover her affair and kept lying to everyone.
Example 2: He had to tell more and more lies as the web of deceit grew.
Other Ways to Say: Lie repeatedly; Complicate with lies; Build a false story
Wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: A dangerous person who pretends to be harmless
In a Sentence
Example 1: That sweet-looking man turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Example 2: Be careful—he may seem helpful, but he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Other Ways to Say: Fake friend; Hidden danger; Pretender
Exercises to Practice
Read each sentence carefully and fill in the blank with the correct idiom from the list above. Think about the meaning and the context.
- When the CEO claimed the company was doing well, it was just ______________________ hiding all the financial problems.
- He pretended to care during the funeral, but we all knew those were just ______________________.
- She said she was late because of traffic, but it sounded like ______________________ to me.
- Don’t trust him—he’s a ______________________, acting friendly while stealing your ideas.
- The magician’s performance was impressive, but it was really ______________________ to distract the audience.
- Stop ______________________ and tell me the truth—did you see what happened or not?
- That story about fighting off a shark sounds like a ______________________ to me!
- He always manages to ______________________ with a clever trick when he’s in trouble.
- She tried to ______________________ by deleting the emails and clearing her history.
- He didn’t tell the full story—he was just being ______________________.
- She said she had a PhD, but that turned out to be ______________________.
- I can’t believe he lied to me and still managed to ______________________ and deny it.
- That businessman is a real ______________________—he tricks people and smiles while doing it.
- He’s always ______________________ to make things seem worse than they are.
- She kept making up details and began to ______________________ of lies that were hard to remember.
- You said you were going to quit smoking last week, and again today? Sounds like you’re starting to ______________________.
Answer Key
- all smoke and mirrors
- crocodile tears
- a likely story
- snake in the grass
- all smoke and mirrors
- beating around the bush
- tall tale
- pull a fast one
- cover her tracks
- economical with the truth
- nothing but a fabrication
- look me straight in the eye
- shady character
- stretching the truth
- weave a web of deceit
- cry wolf
Quiz – Test Your Understanding
Choose the correct idiom for each question. Only one answer is correct per question.
1. Which idiom means “to lie by leaving out important parts of the truth”?
- Bend the truth
- Economical with the truth
- Tell a tall tale
- Full of hot air
2. What does cry wolf mean?
- Pretend to be sick to skip school
- Ask for help when there’s no real danger
- Blame someone else
- Make fun of someone
3. Which idiom describes someone pretending to be kind but secretly dangerous?
- Cat got your tongue?
- Snake in the grass
- Dressed up to the nines
- Put on a brave face
4. What does cook the books mean?
- To prepare food quickly
- To clean your work files
- To lie about financial records
- To work in a library
5. If someone pulls the wool over your eyes, what are they doing?
- Telling you a bedtime story
- Hiding the truth from you
- Giving you a gift
- Taking care of your problems
6. Which idiom means “to say one thing but secretly believe or do the opposite”?
- Put on an act
- Speak with a forked tongue
- Spin a yarn
- Under a cloud
7. If something sounds like a fishy story, how does it feel?
- Very boring
- Too good to be true
- Suspicious and hard to believe
- Romantic and sweet
Answer Key
- Economical with the truth
- Ask for help when there’s no real danger
- Snake in the grass
- To lie about financial records
- Hiding the truth from you
- Speak with a forked tongue
- Suspicious and hard to believe
Conclusion
Lying is a part of language that people use in many ways—sometimes to hide the truth, sometimes to protect themselves, and sometimes just to entertain. In English, there are many idioms that describe lies, fake behavior, and dishonesty. These expressions make your English sound more natural and help you understand real conversations, movies, and books.
In this article, you learned 43 useful idioms about lying, with meanings, examples, and similar phrases. You also practiced with exercises and a quiz to test your understanding.
Keep practicing! The more you see and use these idioms, the more confident you’ll become. And remember: English is not just about grammar—it’s about how people really speak.
