give the lie
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.78 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
1
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To respond to an insult, accusation, or falsehood by saying the offender is lying, particularly in the context of provoking a challenge to a duel.
Intransitive verb; Transitive verb
verb
Used in give the lie to.
Example Sentences
- "Say to the Court, it glowes, and shines like rotten wood; Say to the Church, it shewes whats good, and doth no good: If Church and Court reply, then giue them both the lye."
- "They gave the Queen the Lye divers times, and uſed her with moſt deſpiteful Speeches."
- "It is reputed so great a shame to be accounted a lyer, that any other injury is cancelled by giving the lie; and he that receiveth it, standeth so charged in his honor and reputation, that he cannot disburden himselfe of that imputation, but by striking of him that hath so giuen it, or by challenging him the combat."
- "Ariel: Thou liest. Stephano: Do I so? Take thou that! [Beats Trinculo] As you like this, give me the lie another time! Trinculo: I did not give the lie! Out o' your wits and hearing too?[…]"
- "The great Violation of the Point of Honour from Man to Man, is giving the Lie. One may tell another he Whores, Drinks, Blasphemes, and it may pass unresented; but to say he Lies, tho’ but in Jest, is an Affront that nothing but Blood can expiate."
- "Whatever injury was the initial cause of the quarrel, conflict might move into its physically violent phase only through the particular act of resentment constituted by giving the lie."