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

• Not at home is a familiar white lie.
  不在家是人所熟知的一句谎话。
• 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。
• Though I believe in telling the truth, I think a white lie is sometimes justified.
  虽然我认为应该说实话，但是我认为善意的谎言有时也是无可非议的。
• Okay, so you caught me in a small white lie for pedagogical sake.
  好的，所以你捕捉到我，以教育目的用了个善意的谎言。
• He has told a white lie.
  他说了个白色的谎。
• This is a white lie.
  译成“这是个善意的谎言”。
• Sometimes our Lord permits of a little white lie.
  有时，我们的上帝允许说一点点光明正大的谎言。
• A "white lie" is a harmless untruth, while "white magic" is good magic.
  “小谎”是无恶意的谎言，而“乞灵于天使的白法术”是好戏法。
• 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。
• 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』。