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

• Sometimes it saves a lot of trouble to tell a white lie.
  有时候撒个小谎会节省许多麻烦。
• I told my wife a white lie saying that she looked fabulous in her new clothes.
  我对太太撒了个善意的谎言，称赞她穿上新衣好看极了。
• Not at home is a familiar white lie.
  不在家是人所熟知的一句谎话。
• 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。
• So you mum won't have to yell, a white lie.
  那妈妈就不会骂你了，一个善意的谎言。
• Who among us hasn't told a little white lie?
  我们中的谁没说过小小的善意的谎话？
• 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。
• 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。
• Sample Sentence: He told a white lie when his father asked where he was going.
  例句：当他爸爸问他要去哪儿时，他撒了一个善意的谎言。