Communication
a polite lie
a lie to avoid hurting feelings
A polite lie is something untrue that you say to avoid upsetting or embarrassing someone.
Hear it in real life
Did you really enjoy the party?
Not much, but I told a polite lie and thanked the host.
I told a polite lie and said I loved the haircut.
The mistake everyone makes
Not: I made a polite lie about the gift.
Say: I told a polite lie about the gift.
Learners may use “make” instead of the phrase’s usual verb, “tell.”
Build it
How it fits in a sentence.
tell a polite lie; it was a polite lie
Your turn: say it out loud
I told a polite lie and said I loved the haircut.
Say it out loud two or three times, until it feels like yours.
a polite lie
a lie to avoid hurting feelings
“I told a polite lie and said I loved the haircut.”
heytardy
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