English idiom

live a lie

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to hide your true identity, beliefs, or feelings by living dishonestly

Word picture

A false statement is pictured expanding until it becomes the whole life a person inhabits.

Example

“For years, he felt he was living a lie by pretending to support a career he hated.”

Dictionary details

Component words

live lie

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

live and let live

to accept other people's choices without trying to control them

live it up

to celebrate or indulge freely, usually by spending more than usual

live in sin

to cohabit romantically without having married

crocodile tears

an outward show of sadness that is false or insincere

sour grapes

disparaging something desirable after failing to obtain it

blow off steam

to release pent-up energy or emotion through some activity

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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