a white lie
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A conventional lie, such as telling a caller that Mrs A. or Mrs. B. is not at home, meaning not "at home" to that particu- lar caller.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “a white lie” mean?
A conventional lie, such as telling a caller that Mrs A. or Mrs. B. is not at home, meaning not "at home" to that particu- lar caller.
Is “a white lie” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.