white lie

noun

1. a minor, polite, or harmless lie; fib.

white lie

noun

1. a minor or unimportant lie, esp one uttered in the interests of tact or politeness

Idioms and Phrases

An untruth told to spare feelings or from politeness, as in She asked if I liked her dress, and of course I told a white lie . This term uses white in the sense of “harmless.” [First half of 1700s]

Example Sentences

All it takes is one little white lie, and Frances stealthily gets her foot in the door of the Kyte family home.

From The Daily Beast

The old saying is that a little white lie will never hurt somebody, and sometimes it actually makes things a little better.

From The Daily Beast

"I'll do it," replied John, but he soothed his conscience by telling himself that it was a white lie.

From Project Gutenberg

The Frenchman delicately defined a white lie to be "valking round about de trooth."

From Project Gutenberg

And pray take notice that after the first White Lie or two, circumstances overpowered them, and drove them on against their will.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a lie, I admit—but a white lie—the only explanation you can give, if you would still preserve your secret.

From Project Gutenberg

"I beg pardon, Captain," he said, to which he added a white lie.

From Project Gutenberg