bear false witness
Americanidiom
-
knowingly state as fact that which is untrue; begin or perpetuate a rumor by lying about a person, thing, or event.
They collaborated to bear false witness against the innocent financial officer, which effectively ended his career.
-
knowingly give untrue testimony, as in a court of law; commit perjury.
When she bore false witness on the stand by lying about seeing Jones at the crime scene, did she not realize what the penalty for perjury is?
Etymology
Origin of bear false witness
First recorded in 1350–1400
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It’s OK to speak the truth. Do not bear false witness, senator,” shouted Mr. Walker, who said the evictions were “written about in the paper.”
From New York Times
Another MP, Paula Yacoubian, said she could no longer bear ‘“false witness” to the parliament.
From The Guardian
"There was no circumstance under which I would bear false witness against the president," he said.
From Fox News
“There was no circumstance under which I would bear false witness against the president.”
From Washington Times
"I’m glad after 16 months of being gagged, to finally, at least be able to defend myself. I wasn’t prosecuted because I was covering anything up for the president. I was prosecuted because I refused to bear false witness against the president."
From Fox News
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
