bold lie

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bold lie" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a lie that is audacious or brazen, often implying that the liar is unashamed or confident in their falsehood. Example: "The politician's bold lie about his accomplishments shocked many voters who had trusted him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A bold lie.

The New Yorker

"The added register of that character having to hide his true identity under a bold lie — so as to fool a girl — defined not only the genre, but its readers as well," he writes.

The New York Times - Books

Laughing at @SenShelby 's bold lie regarding @jeffsessions record of treating every American equally.

Huffington Post

The free media are the last and likely the best protector of democracy - which is why Trump persists in the bold lie that it is dishonest and that he is truthful. .

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But I believe that worse than bad politics are bold lies.

The New York Times

Working in the Brooklyn South narcotics unit of the Police Department, Detective Edward Murphy has heard his share of lame excuses and bold lies.

The New York Times

Everyone enthusing over politics as a "marketplace of ideas" forgot that real marketplaces are mad and chaotic, full of loud noises and bright colours and bold lies and the only concern is to make as much money as possible before someone dies of lead poisoning and the bubble finally bursts.

Vice

Paying for $200 billion in infrastructure by cutting $200 billion in infrastructure spending, fumed Moser, is "a bolder lie, a bolder sleight of hand, and a bolder bunch of BS than I would have ever imagined even from" Trump.

Vice

I'd prefer a bolder lie from Sporting Life here (why doesn't he just tell Bess that it's over and that the cops are going to lock Porgy away for good, rather than just hinting that her man might never come back?).

Huffington Post

And the insistence of the leader that he has no obligation to release any record of his financial entanglements, with the bold repeated lie that an "audit"—whose existence can't be confirmed and wouldn't matter anyway prevents him from doing so, is simply and mutely accepted.

The New Yorker

It is a bold-faced lie.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bold lie" when you want to emphasize the audacity and shamelessness of a falsehood. It conveys a stronger sense of outrage or disbelief than simply saying "lie".

Common error

Avoid using "bold lie" when a simple "lie" or "falsehood" will suffice. "Bold lie" implies a deliberate and often outrageous attempt to deceive, so use it only when that level of audacity is present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bold lie" functions as a noun phrase, where "bold" modifies the noun "lie". Ludwig indicates that it is usable in written English and correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bold lie" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe an audacious and blatant falsehood. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and usable. Primarily found in news and media contexts, it serves to emphasize the shamelessness or confidence of the liar. While not extremely common, it is a potent phrase when the situation warrants. For alternative expressions, consider "blatant falsehood" or "brazen deception". Remember to use the phrase judiciously, reserving it for situations where the lie is truly audacious and deliberate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

blatant falsehood

Replaces "lie" with a synonym that emphasizes the falseness.

brazen deception

Emphasizes the shamelessness of the lie.

outright fabrication

Highlights the invented nature of the lie.

flagrant untruth

Replaces both words with synonyms to convey a similar meaning.

barefaced lie

Similar in meaning, stressing the audacity of the lie.

audacious falsehood

Synonymous, focusing on the boldness of the lie.

egregious misrepresentation

More formal, highlighting the misleading nature of the statement.

deliberate untruth

Emphasizes the intentional nature of the lie.

conspicuous lie

Suggests the lie is easily noticeable.

glaring falsehood

Similar to conspicuous, implying the lie is obvious.

FAQs

How to use "bold lie" in a sentence?

You can use "bold lie" to describe a statement that is not only false but also audacious and shameless. For example, "The politician's claim was a "bold lie", designed to mislead the public."

What can I say instead of "bold lie"?

You can use alternatives like "blatant falsehood", "brazen deception", or "outright fabrication" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "bold lie" or "bold-faced lie"?

Both ""bold lie"" and "bold-faced lie" are acceptable, although "bold-faced lie" is slightly more emphatic. The choice depends on personal preference and the desired level of intensity.

What's the difference between "bold lie" and "white lie"?

A ""bold lie"" is a significant and often outrageous falsehood intended to deceive, while a "white lie" is a minor, harmless untruth told to avoid hurting someone's feelings.