# give the lie

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/give-the-lie
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To respond to an insult, accusation, or falsehood by saying the offender is lying, particularly in the context of provoking a challenge to a duel.

## Examples

- His actions give the lie to his claims of honesty.
- You must give the lie to anyone who calls you a thief.
- The discovery of the hidden documents served to give the lie to the manager's public statement about the company's finances.
- The knight felt he had to give the lie to his rival after being accused of cowardice during the royal banquet.
- When the captain insulted his family's honor, the young officer felt he had no choice but to give the lie and demand a formal apology on the field.
- The sudden appearance of the witness at the trial served to give the lie to the defendant’s elaborate alibi, effectively dismantling his entire defense in front of the jury.

## Origin

From *give* + *the* + *lie*, appearing in English as a formal accusation of falsehood. The construction preserves an obsolete sense of the noun *lie*, which historically referred to the specific charge or claim that another person was lying. To give the lie was to deliver this formal challenge to a speaker’s veracity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.