bald-faced lie

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bald-faced lie" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a blatant or shameless lie, often one that is obvious to others. Example: "When he claimed he had never seen the document, it was a bald-faced lie, as everyone knew he had been involved in its creation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

It's not often a pol tells a bald-faced lie on such a high-profile stage.

The Guardian - Opinion

They either said, "Well, we don't believe it's happening". Which, of course, is just a bald-faced lie.

Yale University

Their claim, for example, that the bill would have created a national registry of gunowners was a bald-faced lie.

The New York Times

The truth is that the whole UN mission in Haiti is based on a violent, bald-faced lie.

The Guardian - Opinion

Abdul Mubarak-Rowe, spokesperson for the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic relations, called Trump's version of events "a bald-faced lie".

The Guardian

Set in the context of his many dissemblings and obfuscations over recent months, the fact that this is a bald-faced lie is neither here nor there, just a casual slur despatched with little regard for the facts.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

There is no doubt about the main culprit, says Rosenzweig. "China denies it – but this is one of the bald-faced lies that people get away with because we don't want to face the consequences.

The Guardian - Tech

General Keith Alexander [head of US Cyber Command] says he is seeing it, and he's not the sort of guy to make things up". There is no doubt about the main culprit, says Rosenzweig. "China denies it – but this is one of the bald-faced lies that people get away with because we don't want to face the consequences.

The Guardian - Tech

While artfulness is preferred, bald-faced lying is also part of the protocol.

The New Yorker

Some opponents of President Obama are circulating bald-faced lies about him that are also scurrilous attacks on Islam itself.

The New York Times

You never knew there were that many people out there telling bald-faced lies just to get a shag.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bald-faced lie" to emphasize the blatant and obvious nature of a falsehood. It's particularly effective when highlighting a speaker's audacity or lack of concern for being caught in the lie.

Common error

Avoid using "bald-faced lie" in situations that require a subtle or diplomatic approach. The phrase carries a strong accusatory tone and can be too aggressive for sensitive discussions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bald-faced lie" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as an adjective to describe the type of lie being told. It modifies a noun, emphasizing the blatant and obvious nature of the falsehood. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase commonly appears to qualify statements or claims.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Academia

6%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bald-faced lie" is a common and forceful way to describe a blatant and obvious falsehood. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide usage, particularly in news and media contexts. While synonyms like "blatant lie" or "outright lie" exist, "bald-faced lie" emphasizes the speaker's audacity and lack of concern for being caught in the deception. It's a powerful phrase best used when a strong accusatory tone is appropriate. The phrase serves to discredit and challenge the integrity of the speaker or the claim itself.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Blatant lie

This alternative is a more direct synonym, replacing the figurative "bald-faced" with the more straightforward "blatant".

Outright lie

Similar to "blatant lie", this option uses "outright" to emphasize the directness and lack of subtlety in the lie.

Barefaced lie

This is a very close synonym, maintaining the original figurative structure with a slight variation in wording.

Shameless lie

This alternative focuses on the brazen nature of the lie, emphasizing the lack of shame in telling it.

Flagrant lie

This term suggests that the lie is conspicuously or obviously offensive.

Egregious falsehood

This alternative uses a more formal tone, replacing "lie" with the more sophisticated "falsehood" and emphasizing the shocking nature of it.

Conspicuous fabrication

This option moves further from the original phrase, using "fabrication" and "conspicuous" to highlight the constructed and obvious nature of the lie.

Patent untruth

This alternative is more formal and less common, using "patent" to indicate that the untruth is easily recognizable.

Undisguised deception

This option highlights the lack of any attempt to hide the lie, focusing on the act of deception itself.

Unmitigated prevarication

This alternative is the most formal and complex, using "unmitigated" to emphasize the lie's severity and "prevarication" as a sophisticated synonym for lying.

FAQs

How to use "bald-faced lie" in a sentence?

You can use "bald-faced lie" to describe a statement that is blatantly false and easily recognized as such. For example, "His claim that he didn't know about the missing funds was a "bald-faced lie"."

What can I say instead of "bald-faced lie"?

You can use alternatives like "blatant lie", "outright lie", or "shameless lie" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "bald-faced lie" or "bare-faced lie"?

"Bald-faced lie" and "bare-faced lie" are both acceptable and have the same meaning. "Bald-faced lie" is more commonly used in American English.

What's the difference between "bald-faced lie" and "white lie"?

A "bald-faced lie" is a blatant and obvious falsehood, while a "white lie" is a minor or inconsequential lie told to avoid hurting someone's feelings.