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 • Apr. 10, 2024

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 • Mar. 10, 2021

"The cheque's in the post" still works, even though it is nine times out of 10 a barefaced lie.

From The Guardian • Jun. 29, 2010

He wrote letters containing the barefaced lie that he intended to attack New York when he intended to attack Cornwallis.

From Stand By The Union by Bridgman, L. J. (Lewis Jesse)

It means that while we’re thousands of miles away they are trying to gull the public and get other ball players to jump their contracts by a barefaced lie like this.

From Baseball Joe Around the World Pitching on a Grand Tour by Chadwick, Lester