white lie

英 [ˌwaɪt ˈlaɪ]

美 [ˌwaɪt ˈlaɪ]

n.  (尤指为避免伤害他人感情的)善意的谎言，小谎

牛津词典

noun

• （尤指为避免伤害他人感情的）善意的谎言，小谎
  a harmless or small lie, especially one that you tell to avoid hurting sb

柯林斯词典

• 善意的谎言
  If you refer to an untrue statement as awhite lie, you mean that it is made to avoid hurting someone's feelings or to avoid trouble, and not for an evil purpose.

英英释义

noun

• an unimportant lie (especially one told to be tactful or polite)

双语例句

• I'd rather tell my mother a white lie than tell her the truth and upset her.
  我宁可向妈妈撒个小谎，也不愿把真相告她，让她心中不安。
• Not at home is a familiar white lie.
  不在家是人所熟知的一句谎话。
• Can't you just tell a small white lie so you don't hurt his feelings?
  我知道不容易，可你那么聪明我相信你一定能回答出来。
• White lie accomplishes some positive good or at least avoids some evil.
  『善意的谎言完成某一正面好或至少避免某一罪恶』。
• I told a white lie when I told Jennie her boyfriend was good-looking.
  我告诉珍妮说她男朋友很好看，说了个善意的谎。
• I told her a white lie when I said that I had to leave because I had a headache.
  我说我头痛必须先走，那是对她撒了个无伤大雅的谎。
• He has told a white lie.
  他说了个白色的谎。
• I cannot shake my dependency on the white lie, because I was brought up to be nice.
  我不会让善意的谎言动摇了我的诚信，因为我从小就被教育要成为一个好人。
• That child told his mother a white lie.
  阿谁小孩背他妈妈讲了个小谎。
• What's the difference between a white lie and a lie? I mean, it's all the same to me.
  善意的谎言和谎言之间有什么不同？我是说，对于我而言二者完全一样。