barefaced lie

Idioms  

1. A shameless falsehood. For example, Bill could tell a barefaced lie with a straight face. The adjective barefaced means “beardless,” and one theory is that in the 1500s this condition was considered brazen in all but the youngest males. By the late 1600s barefaced also meant “brazen” or “bold,” the meaning alluded to in this phrase.

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Example Sentences

Mr Khan's spokesperson previously said the circulated leaflets "peddle a barefaced lie".

From BBC

Elizabeth still hoped to avoid outright conflict with Spain and put about the barefaced lie that he had limped home empty-handed.

From New York Times

Trade minister Greg Hands replied to Sir Keir's tweet saying: "This is just a barefaced lie by Starmer. He didn't show up for a single minute of 4 1/2 hours of debate on the Trade Bill on Monday, and it shows. The NHS is not & won't ever be part of UK trade deals."

From BBC

“You’ve said that three times now, and each time you’ve told a barefaced lie.”

From Literature

In an interview on Thursday, Ms. Kristeva vigorously dismissed the accusation as “fake news” and a “barefaced lie” — “mud being slung at me,” she said, by unspecified people who wished her harm.

From New York Times