made me lie

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made me lie" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that someone or something caused you to be untruthful or to not tell the truth. Example: "The pressure from my friends made me lie about my whereabouts last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

He just made me lie down.

The Guardian

"They made me lie to my children, who of course would wonder why on earth their baby brother was coming home when they couldn't," Annie says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I had no idea about kidney transplants, but when they made me lie down on the stretcher, I was terrified," he said.

The New York Times

But me, when they learned I was from Kiev, they said, 'Why are you caught up in this?' They took me about a dozen metres away and made me lie down while they kept beating him.

The New Yorker

The words—"They stripped us and dragged us to a cell and made me lie on my stomach"—have been inked in Courier type on a swatch of linen.

The New Yorker

One day about halfway through our stay in New Orleans, she made me lie down on the couch and tell her everything I had learned while she made notes on a four-by-five-foot sheet of butcher paper.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

When I got there, the officers made me lay on the ground.

Vice

So now Angry Birds was making me lie to my own children.

The New York Times

It is you, Mr Hutton, who make me lie awake at night, choked with fear about the future.

The Guardian

She makes me lie down with my head on her lap and, with a hair clip, cleans the wax out of my ears.

The New Yorker

He makes me lie down in green pastures, and leads me beside the waters of peace; he renews life within me, and for his name's sake guides me in the right path.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "made me lie", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what exerted the influence. Providing specific details strengthens the narrative and enhances credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "made me lie" in a way that obscures who or what is responsible for the pressure to lie. Be direct and explicit about the source of influence to maintain clarity and avoid misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made me lie" functions as a causative construction, indicating that an external force or entity caused the speaker to be untruthful. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is indeed correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made me lie" is a grammatically sound and understandable expression used to convey that someone or something else caused the speaker to be dishonest. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English. While not overly common, its use is most prominent in news and media contexts, serving to attribute blame or explain actions taken under duress. For alternative phrasing, consider "forced me to lie" or "compelled me to be untruthful" depending on the nuance you want to express. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear and the source of influence is well-defined.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forced me to lie

Emphasizes the lack of choice and the imposition of external will to be untruthful.

compelled me to be untruthful

Highlights an irresistible pressure leading to a deviation from the truth.

coerced me into lying

Focuses on the manipulative aspect of forcing someone to lie.

pressured me to deceive

Indicates a strong influence that led to misleading someone.

induced me to fabricate

Implies the creation of a false story under external influence.

manipulated me into a lie

Highlights how someone was controlled to create a false narrative.

obliged me to misrepresent

Suggests a sense of duty or requirement to convey something falsely.

constrained me to prevaricate

Indicates a restriction that resulted in avoiding the truth.

drove me to falsify

Emphasizes the strong impetus or necessity to alter or misrepresent something.

influenced me to mislead

Focuses on indirect effect which caused someone to give the wrong idea.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says "made me lie"?

Saying someone "made me lie" indicates that they felt compelled or forced by another person or situation to be untruthful. It suggests a lack of personal agency and external pressure to deceive.

How can I use the phrase "made me lie" in a sentence?

You can use "made me lie" to express how external forces influenced your decision to be dishonest. For instance: "The fear of losing my job "made me lie" to my boss about the project's progress."

What are some alternatives to "made me lie"?

Alternatives include "forced me to lie", "compelled me to be untruthful", or "pressured me to deceive". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is "made me lie" grammatically correct?

Yes, "made me lie" is grammatically correct. The verb "make" can be followed by an object and the base form of another verb. For example: "They made him do it."