how you define lie?

Answer 1

Mr. Dictionary says a lie is "a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood." That would include any small, seemingly harmless untruth told for someone's benefit, namely called the "white lie". Referencing to Mr. Dictionary again, he says on the subject that a white lie is "a minor, polite, or harmless lie; fib."

Sometimes, a white lie can be okay. (IE If you know someone is sensitive about their weight and they ask the loaded question, "Do I look fat in this?", even if they do, you would probably soften the truth to spare their feelings.) This can be considered a kindness. Then again some people can blunt to a fault and are honest in all situations. It is a matter of personal philosophy if you consider telling a white lie ethical. Many people do.

But what constitutes an acceptable lie and an unacceptable, or even a malicious lie, is a gray area, open to many different interpretations, depending on your own ideals.

A good way to measure a lie's acceptability is to think about the person you are lying to. Would you want them to lie to you if your situation was reversed? If the answer is no, then you have the definite answer to your question. And you probably shouldn't follow through with the deception.

Answer 2

Any action, word or speech that has an agenda attached to it that benefits the person carrying it out even though what they may have said is opposite to it. Also anything that is manipulative or obscure in meaning should be regarded as a lie.

Answer 3

Aside from the obvious, a half truth is a lie by omission, withholding the truth is a lie for failure to disclose the truth.

Answer 4

Intentionally withholding information, or manipulating information in order to mislead someone. Sometimes this is good asin no really mom I love your tortellini its great even though you hate it but to say something like I was at home all night when you weren't is a lie and a bad one at that

Answer 5

To say one thing and the say it's direct opposite. Or to say that something is true when it is not. So misquoting statistics is lying. Saying that you'll do something when you have no intention of carrying through is lying. There are a lot of ways to lie.

Answer 6

Information that someone deserves to know, which you do not provide, in whole or in part, is a lie.

Answer 7

Intentionally & knowingly providing false information as well as withholding or manipulating information in order to mislead or deceive another.

Answer 8

Omission of the truth or telling someone one thing when the opposite is true.

Answer 9

A Sin. Nuf said.

Answer 10

When you know that you are not telling the whole truth and nothing but the the truth.