a downright lie

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a downright lie" is correct and usable in written English
It can be used to emphasize that something is completely false or untrue, often in a strong or emphatic manner. Example: "The claim that he was never at the scene of the crime is a downright lie."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The £2bn of supposed extra money for the NHS is a downright lie because they have consistently cut the NHS.

The Guardian

"Be sure to lock the doors," she'd said, to which he'd replied that he always locked them, this being a downright lie.

The New Yorker

Judy Dillon, who was Mr. Buchmann's assistant at WBAB and has since followed him to WAXQ, said: "That's a downright lie.

The New York Times

Of course the polarisation of old and young rests on a fallacy, if not a downright lie: that all young people possess perfect skin and gleaming hair, have non-stop sex, are bursting with energy and are never lonely.

The Guardian

Ms Bours said it was a "downright lie" to say UKIP wanted to privatise the NHS.

BBC

It's hard to see how that isn't, in hindsight, a downright lie.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He also accused Air Rhodesia of surreptitiously hauling troops and war materiel for the government, an allegation that Captain Pat Travers, Air Rhodesia's general manager, called a "downright, deliberate lie".

Wikipedia

And, frankly, it's become a complex enough situation that it is slightly hard to parse truth from half-truth from downright lie.

TechCrunch

For too long, those who haven't served on the ground in these wars have been allowed fear monger, distort, and downright lie about the issue - and politicians and the media have largely been too eager to accommodate them.

Huffington Post

Conversely many comics make a great living telling downright lies.

The Guardian - Books

And I blame you, Leave voters, for "going with a gut feeling" of empty rhetoric and downright lies because of a sad sense of lack of agency that we've all felt.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a downright lie" to strongly and directly refute a statement you believe is entirely false. It's more impactful than milder alternatives.

Common error

While effective, "a downright lie" can sound informal. In formal or academic writing, consider using alternatives like "a blatant falsehood" or "a deliberate misrepresentation" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a downright lie" functions as a noun phrase. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to emphatically identify a statement as completely false. It directly labels something as untrue, often with an implication of deliberate deceit.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a downright lie" is a noun phrase used to strongly assert that something is entirely false. As verified by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and effective for clearly labeling something as untrue. While it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, it is suitable for neutral situations although more formal alternatives may be more appropriate for academic or business environments. Consider using alternatives such as ""a blatant falsehood"" or ""a complete fabrication"" to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an outright deception

Stresses the act of deceit is direct and not subtle.

a blatant falsehood

Highlights the obviousness and audacity of the lie.

a barefaced lie

Suggests the lie is told shamelessly and openly.

a complete fabrication

Focuses on the inventive nature of the falsehood.

a deliberate untruth

Emphasizes the intentionality behind the falsehood.

an utter untruth

Emphasizes the total lack of truth.

a total deception

Highlights the act of misleading someone entirely.

a flagrant misrepresentation

Focuses on the distortion of facts in a shocking way.

a pure invention

Stresses the creation of something false from nothing.

a gross distortion of the truth

Emphasizes the extreme extent to which the truth has been twisted.

FAQs

What does "a downright lie" mean?

The phrase "a downright lie" means a complete and utter untruth, emphasizing the falsity and directness of the statement.

How can I use "a downright lie" in a sentence?

You can use it to strongly assert that something is entirely false, such as: "His claim that he didn't know about the plan is "a downright lie"".

What can I say instead of "a downright lie"?

You can use alternatives like "a blatant falsehood", "a complete fabrication", or "an outright deception" depending on the context.

Is "a downright lie" too informal for academic writing?

While understandable, "a downright lie" might be considered informal for academic writing. Consider using phrases like "a deliberate misrepresentation" or "a flagrant misrepresentation" instead.