'Lie through your teeth' means to tell somebody something that you know to be completely false or untrue. Watch the video and then read our analysis afterwards. This video explains the meaning and use of the idiom 'lie through your teeth' in English. We explain how to use it with some easy examples to help you learn this idiom so you can use it in spoken and Business English.
This idiom means to tell somebody something that you know to be completely false or untrue. Unlike a white lie, which is often harmless or trivial, to 'lie through your teeth' is to do so deliberately, emphatically, and without shame. The force of this expression means that to accuse someone of doing so can lead to conflict. That's why you would generally only say it to, or about, a person you are absolutely certain is lying. As the video shows, this expression is common in both a social and professional context, and is similar to the phrases 'tell a pack of lies,' and 'a barefaced lie.'