white lie

American  

noun

1. a minor, polite, or harmless lie; fib.

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white lie British  

noun

1. a minor or unimportant lie, esp one uttered in the interests of tact or politeness

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white lie Idioms  

1. An untruth told to spare feelings or from politeness, as in She asked if I liked her dress, and of course I told a white lie. This term uses white in the sense of “harmless.” [First half of 1700s]

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Example Sentences

A white lie; it would be easier on her if she thought I’d be interacting mostly with women.

From Literature

Not even a white lie to avoid upsetting someone?

From The Wall Street Journal

In her short fur coat and bright pink lips, she said she is well aware of "everything that's happening in the world, and where black and white lie."

From Barron's

So any little bad thing he ever done—a white lie here, a small mistake there—whirled through his mind as he twirled through the clouds.

From Literature

"When we arrange pick-ups, we tell a white lie," the staff member said.

From BBC