# I tell a lie

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/i-tell-a-lie
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

I am mistaken; I thought that what I said (or wrote) was true, but I have just realised that it is not.

## Examples

- The meeting is at ten, wait, I tell a lie, it is at eleven.
- I thought I left my keys on the table, but I tell a lie, they are actually in my coat pocket.
- He claimed the train departed at noon, but then, I tell a lie, he checked the schedule and realized it had already left an hour ago.

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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.