give the lie to

Idioms and Phrases

Show to be false, refute, as in His black eye gave the lie to his contention that he hadn't been fighting . [First half of 1500s]

Example Sentences

The results give the lie to a slew of exit polls at the weekend that showed the BJP-led NDA alliance on course for a super majority of two-thirds of parliament, which would have allowed it to make changes to the constitution.

From BBC

They said they expect “overwhelming evidence to give the lie to this defense,” and they called it improper and prejudicial for Bankman-Fried to malign Ellison’s credibility before the trial.

From Seattle Times

Videos give the lie to official reports.

From Slate

These executions give the lie to the promise that lethal injection would, as Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia once said, ensure an "enviable" and "quiet death."

From Salon

President Putin claims he is not targeting civilian areas, but the destroyed homes of Irpin give the lie to that.

From BBC

Related Words

• contradict
• counter
• disprove
• expose
• oppose
• quash
• rebut
• repudiate
• squelch