a sheer lie

USAGE SUMMARY

"a sheer lie" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to emphasize that something is completely false or untrue. For example: "The accusations that the company was responsible for the environmental hazard are a sheer lie."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

No one — not Obama, not the international inspectors — takes much solace in the declaration of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, that American allegations about Iran's program are "a sheer lie," or in his assurances that "we consider using nuclear weapons" to be "against Islamic rules".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The sheer lie about their being terrorists is used to justify unjustifiable crimes.

Huffington Post

Apply a sheer lip gloss over it.

WikiHow

It was partially because I did not find any major problems with the text, and partially as a protest vote against a Machiavellian opposition that spread, or at has least turned a blind eye to spreading sheer lies and allegations about the text just to mobilise the public against it.

BBC

The speaker of Iran's Parliament, Ali Larijani, had already dismissed Mr. Karroubi's claims as "sheer lies" this week, saying an inquiry ordered days earlier had found no evidence that protesters detained in the demonstrations that followed the election had been raped.

The New York Times

"The reports in this regard are sheer lies and there has been no meeting in Cairo," a spokesman for the Iranian atomic organisation was quoted as saying by state television.

Independent

Mr. Larijani dismissed the rape accusations as "sheer lies," saying the inquiry had found no evidence to support them.

The New York Times

After Mr. Jandali's story was first reported in The Wall Street Journal in August, Syria's ambassador to the United States, Imad Moustapha, told the Journal that the allegations were "slander and sheer lies".

The New York Times

The Indian patient lay quietly in his hospital bed, his wife beside him, elegant in an embroidered dress and a sheer blue headscarf.

The New York Times - Health

"She was wearing a bikini and was lying on a sheer sarong," said Mr. Green, 33, who is a certified public accountant at Credit Suisse First Boston in Manhattan.

The New York Times - Style

Although this collection included masculine tailored pantsuits, even they were surrounded by vaporizing fabrics that were bound loosely over flesh or lay across the breasts in a sheer curtain.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sheer lie" when you want to emphasize the blatant and utter falsity of a statement. This phrase adds a strong sense of disbelief and condemnation.

Common error

While "a sheer lie" is acceptable, avoid overuse in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more neutral alternatives like "untruth" or "misrepresentation" for professional settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sheer lie" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a direct object or predicate nominative to denote something patently false. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

22%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sheer lie" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English used to emphasize the falsity of a statement. Ludwig AI's analysis shows that it functions as a noun phrase with the primary purpose of denouncing something as untrue. While most commonly found in news and media contexts, its register leans toward neutral to informal, making it less appropriate for highly formal writing. Consider alternative phrases like "an outright falsehood" or "a complete fabrication" for different levels of formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an outright falsehood

Replaces "lie" with "falsehood" and uses "outright" to intensify the falseness.

a complete fabrication

Substitutes "lie" with "fabrication", highlighting the invented nature of the statement.

a total untruth

Uses "untruth" instead of "lie", with "total" emphasizing the complete absence of truth.

a blatant deception

Replaces "lie" with "deception" and uses "blatant" to describe the obviousness of the lie.

a pure invention

Highlights the fabricated nature of the statement, implying it's entirely made up.

an absolute whopper

Uses the informal term "whopper" to describe a large or outrageous lie, adding emphasis.

a bald-faced lie

Implies the lie is told shamelessly and openly.

a pack of lies

Indicates that several lies are presented together.

a tissue of lies

Suggests the lie is fragile and easily exposed.

pure fiction

States the statement is fictional rather than factual.

FAQs

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

You can use "a sheer lie" to emphasize that something is completely false. For example: "His claim that he didn't know about the scandal was "a sheer lie"."

What are some alternatives to saying "a sheer lie"?

Alternatives to "a sheer lie" include "an outright falsehood", "a complete fabrication", or "a total untruth". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "a sheer lie" stronger than simply saying "a lie"?

Yes, adding "sheer" intensifies the statement, emphasizing that the lie is blatant and undeniable. It conveys a stronger sense of disbelief or outrage.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "a sheer lie"?

The phrase "a sheer lie" is suitable for situations where you want to express strong disagreement or disbelief, emphasizing that something is not just incorrect, but a deliberate and obvious falsehood. It is often used in persuasive writing or speaking where conveying conviction is important.