ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lie with

prep. phr..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford Formal

prep. phr.. to be dishonest or not truthful about something — often used when hiding the full truth.

prep. phr.. to be untruthful or deceptive in relation to a subject or matter; typically used in contexts involving moral or ethical misrepresentation.


SIMPLE

He lied with the facts to avoid getting in trouble.

CONTEXTUAL

The witness lied with the evidence during the trial, making the case much harder to prove.

COMPLEX

In his testimony, the politician lied with the truth to avoid admitting guilt, a tactic that backfired spectacularly.

Usage

followed by a noun indicating the subject or matter being misrepresented.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'lie about' (more common) and 'fabricate' (to make up details); 'lie with' is less frequent and may confuse learners expecting 'lie about' as the standard form.

Pitfall

She lied with the truth.She lied about the truth.'lie with' is less common and can be confusing; 'lie about' is the standard form for this meaning.

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