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。
• But in this sense, what does the term a white lie mean?
  善意的谎言是什么意思呢？
• Even though Sarah's haircut was really ugly, James told her a white lie by saying it was a good change.
  虽然萨拉的发型真的很难看，詹姆斯对她撒了善意的谎言，说这是个很好的改变。
• 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 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。
• But mama said it wasjust a little white lie.
  但妈妈说一些大话不要紧。
• This is a white lie.
  译成“这是个善意的谎言”。
• 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。
• 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。
• Sometimes it is perfectly all right to tell a white lie.
  有时候说个善意的谎言是完全无伤大雅的。