lie to: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighInformal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “lie to” mean?
To deliberately tell an untruth or make a false statement to someone.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To deliberately tell an untruth or make a false statement to someone.
To deceive by means of a falsehood; to mislead or betray through dishonesty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant syntactic difference. The verb 'lie' is sometimes conflated with 'lay' by speakers in both varieties, but this is considered an error.
Connotations
Equally negative in both dialects. Potentially slightly more euphemistic synonyms might be used in formal British contexts (e.g., 'be economical with the truth').
Frequency
Equally common and fundamental in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “lie to” in a Sentence
NP lie to NP (He lied to his boss.)NP lie to NP about NP (She lied to me about the money.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lie to” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You shouldn't lie to the police.
- He's been lying to his partner for months.
American English
- Don't you lie to me, young man!
- Politicians are often accused of lying to the public.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'It is unethical to lie to investors about company performance.'
Academic
'The study examines the psychological cost of choosing to lie to an authority figure.'
Everyday
'I knew he was lying to me about where he'd been.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lie to”
- Incorrect: 'He lied me.' Correct: 'He lied to me.'
- Incorrect: 'He lay to me about it.' (using 'lay' for 'lied').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The past tense is 'lied'. Example: 'Yesterday, he lied to me.'
It is 'lie to'. The preposition 'to' indicates the person who receives the false information. 'Lie at' is incorrect in this context.
'Lie to' involves verbal deception. 'Cheat on' typically implies betrayal in a relationship or breaking rules (e.g., cheating on a test or a partner). You can lie to someone without cheating on them, and vice versa.
Yes, but more formal synonyms like 'mislead' or 'deceive' might be preferred. 'Lie to' is direct and unambiguous, suitable for formal contexts when clear accusation is needed.
To deliberately tell an untruth or make a false statement to someone.
Lie to: in British English it is pronounced /laɪ tuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /laɪ tuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Lie through one's teeth to someone.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'lie' needing direction - TO whom is it told? You LIE TO a person.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUTH IS A STRAIGHT PATH / DECEPTION IS A TWISTED PATH. Lying is deviating from the path of truth.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'lie to' correctly?