- A lie that is extremely obvious and told shamelessly, without any attempt to disguise the untruth or show embarrassment.
- The audacity and transparency of the lie are key characteristics.
Explanation
Origin
- Barefaced historically means unconcealed, open, or shameless (as in having a face without a mask or covering).
- Applied to a lie, it means the deception is open and brazen, with no effort made to make it convincing or hide the fact that it *is* a lie. Dates back to the late 16th or early 17th century.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Total BS. (Bullshit vulgar)
- Load of crap. / Load of bollocks. (UK vulgar)
- That's pure cap. (Modern AAVE slang = total lie)
- As if! (Expressing disbelief at the lie)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- A fucking outrageous lie.
- Complete fabrication. (Can be formal or emphatic)
Milder/Formal:
- A patent untruth.
- An evident falsehood.
- A manifest fabrication.
Situational Appropriateness
- Appropriate in most contexts when describing a truly obvious and shameless lie.
- The strong condemnatory tone might be tempered in very formal or diplomatic settings, perhaps substituting a clear untruth or a demonstrable falsehood.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Learners should grasp that barefaced emphasizes the *shamelessness* and *obviousness* of the lie, making it different from a subtle or well-disguised lie.
Examples
- He claimed he wrote the report himself, but it was clearly copied from the website – a barefaced lie!
- Denying he broke the vase while holding the broken pieces was a barefaced lie.
- Telling the investors the company was profitable when it was bankrupt was a shocking, barefaced lie.
Dialogue
Anna: My brother told our parents he'd been studying all night, but I know he was out partying! I saw his Instagram stories!
Mark: Wow, that's a barefaced lie! Did they believe him?
Anna: I think Mom suspects something, but Dad bought it.
Social Media Examples
- Political commentary tweet: The politician's denial, despite video evidence, is a barefaced lie. #factcheck
- Facebook post: Caught my toddler red-handed with cookies, denying everything. The cutest barefaced lie ever! 😂 #toddlerlife
- News analysis comment: Calling that statement 'spin' is generous. It was a barefaced lie.
Response Patterns
- Unbelievable! / I can't believe it!
- The nerve of them! / The audacity!
- How could they say that?
- Expressions of agreement and outrage.
- What happened then?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing about a barefaced lie:
- Listeners typically react with strong condemnation (That's terrible!).
- They often ask about the liar's demeanor or the consequences (Did they even blush?, Did they get away with it?).
Conversation Starter
- No. Used to describe or condemn a specific lie within a conversation or narrative.
Intonation
- Usually spoken with strong emotion like shock, indignation, disbelief, or condemnation.
- Heavy emphasis on barefaced. That's a BAREFACED lie!
Generation Differences
- Understood across generations. Bold-faced lie might be encountered more frequently in American English.
Regional Variations
- Barefaced lie is common, especially in British English. Bold-faced lie is very common in American English. Both are generally understood across regions.