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live a lie

idiom
Meaning

To conceal something about oneself, without the knowledge of which others cannot know one's true character or perspective.


Examples
SIMPLE

He feels guilty because he is living a lie.

CONTEXTUAL

She felt trapped in her marriage, knowing that pretending to be happy meant she was living a lie.

COMPLEX

For decades, he maintained a facade of success, yet he knew deep down that he was living a lie that would eventually unravel.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    give the lie

    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.

  2. 02

    give the lie to

    To reveal or prove (something) to be false; to refute.

  3. 03

    I can't lie

    To be honest, frankly, honestly.

  4. 04

    I tell a lie

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

  5. 05

    let a sleeping dog lie

    Alternative form of let sleeping dogs lie.

  6. 06

    let sleeping dogs lie

    To leave things as they are; especially, to avoid restarting or rekindling an old argument; to leave disagreements in the past.

  7. 07

    lie at someone's door

    To be the fault or responsibility of someone.

  8. 08

    lie back and think of England

    Synonym of close one's eyes and think of England: to accept unwanted sex due to social pressures.

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