outright lies

USAGE SUMMARY

"outright lies" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it when referring to someone who is deliberately deceiving by telling falsehoods. For example, "He was caught telling outright lies about his whereabouts on the night of the theft."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's two outright lies in 48 minutes.

The Economist

"Outright lies, that is not true".

The Guardian

And I didn't hear any outright lies.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Yuan thinks silence is preferable to outright lies.

The New York Times

His charges are "outright lies", Mr Santos told Bello.

The Economist

Yes, there were misrepresentations, deceit and outright lies.

The New York Times

That would be the racism, homophobia and outright lies.

The Guardian

Our democracy occasionally punishes outright lies but not brazen insincerity.

The New York Times - Books

Complete falsehoods, self-justifications, rationalizations, outright lies, fantasies and miscommunication.

The New York Times - Arts

Shakur discounts the book as "sensationalism, groundless accusations and outright lies".

The Guardian - Books

She didn't actually make anything up; she told no outright lies.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outright lies", consider the context; it's most effective when emphasizing a breach of trust or ethical violation.

Common error

Avoid using "outright lies" when describing unintentional errors or misunderstandings. Reserve it for situations where deliberate deception is evident.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outright lies" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a linking verb. According to Ludwig AI, it's used to denote statements that are intentionally and completely false.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

4%

Huffington Post

4%

Less common in

Forbes

0.4%

The Guardian - Arts

0.4%

The New Yorker

0.4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outright lies" functions as a noun phrase used to describe statements known to be completely false and intentionally deceptive. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently employed across diverse media. The phrase carries a neutral to professional register, with a communicative purpose of expressing strong disapproval of deception. While commonly found in News & Media, it's crucial to reserve it for cases of evident, deliberate falsehoods, distinguishing them from unintentional errors or mere exaggerations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utter falsehoods

Emphasizes the complete and total falsity of the statements.

blatant falsehoods

Highlights the obvious and shameless nature of the lies.

barefaced lies

Focuses on the boldness and lack of shame in telling the lies.

complete fabrications

Emphasizes the artificial and constructed nature of the falsehoods.

absolute untruths

Focuses on the lack of any truth whatsoever in the statements.

pure deceptions

Highlights the unadulterated and complete nature of the deceit.

deliberate untruths

Stresses the intentional and premeditated nature of the lies.

palpable lies

Highlights the ease with which the falsehood can be detected.

unmitigated falsehoods

Emphasizes that the lies are not softened or lessened in any way.

arrant lies

Uses a more formal term to describe complete and utter lies.

FAQs

How can I use "outright lies" in a sentence?

You can use "outright lies" to describe statements that are completely false and intentionally deceptive. For instance, "The politician was accused of telling "outright lies" about his past."

What's a more formal alternative to "outright lies"?

A more formal alternative could be "deliberate falsehoods" or "complete fabrications". These phrases convey a similar meaning but are suitable for more formal contexts.

Is there a difference between "misleading statements" and "outright lies"?

"Misleading statements" may involve partial truths or omissions, while "outright lies" are entirely false and intended to deceive. The intent is a key differentiator.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "outright lies"?

It is appropriate to use "outright lies" when you want to strongly emphasize that someone is not just mistaken, but is intentionally and completely misrepresenting the truth.