When is a lie a lie? That may seem like a simple question on the surface, but there are many factors to consider. When you say something complimentary to avoid insulting someone with your honest opinion, we call it a "white lie," but it's still a falsehood. You could say the same thing about embellishing a story for drama, or about passing along a lie that we don't know is false. How about when you word something in an ambiguous way that gives you plausible deniability? Should we define a lie by the literal words, the intent behind those words, or the perception of the listener? It's very possible to say one thing with words while implying something completely different with body language and tone of voice. Does this make one of them technically a lie?
Linguist Dr. Erica Brozovsky (previously at Neatorama) explains how complicated lying is, from animals that use camouflage to criminal perjury. It's no wonder lie detectors don't work.
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