Truth and lies. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. We can be deceived without even knowing it. Look at politicians. It seems like they are always lying.
Sometimes we decide to lie, maybe to avoid confrontation or embarrassment. Maybe we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings.
The fact is that we have all lied. Listen to Kevin and Amanda tell the truth about lying.
Dialogue
Kevin: I have a friend who I met about three years ago and she claimed she had married her husband after they knew each other for six months and it turns out they’d only known each other for four weeks.
Amanda: What?
Kevin: What do you think about that? So she lied. I mean, it didn’t offend me but I was surprised.
Amanda: So why do you think she lied about it? She obviously felt like she had to.
Kevin: Well, you know, she felt… I mean, she felt very self-conscious. People will say, “What do you mean you got married after four weeks?” You know, six months seems a little bit more reasonable, I guess.
Amanda: How do you feel about being deceived by a friend?
Kevin: I didn’t mind it. I mean, for that, because I met her after the fact.
Amanda: No, lying’s an interesting thing. Some people lie naturally and have a difficult time telling the truth.
Kevin: Are you lying to me right now?
Amanda: You’ll never know, will you? And other people, they feel uncomfortable lying.
Kevin: Yeah.
Amanda: They have to be honest every moment of the day or they can’t sleep at night and I think that’s you.
Kevin: Um, at times it is me. I, I, I do struggle with, even, you know, stretching the truth and… you know? But I think that can cause problems too, you know, because I don’t think…
Kevin’s friend lied to him because she was afraid Kevin would judge her for marrying someone she had just met. Eventually she came clean. He forgave her.
When Kevin says “after the fact” he means that he met her after she got married.
Have you ever lied?
How did you justify your lie?
Vocab
self-conscious adj.
Definition: aware of yourself; insecure, worried or overly concerned with something about yourself
Example: He's so self-conscious about his acne.
offend v.
Definition: insult; hurt someone's feelings
Example: Would it offend you if I canceled our dinner plans?
comes in handy expr.
Definition: is useful; is convenient
Example: A flashlight comes in handy when you are camping because you can see in the dark.
lying v.
Definition: the act of telling a lie; being dishonest
Example: You can always tell if I'm lying. My face gets red.
deceived v.
Definition: lied to; mislead; betrayed
Example: When I heard that he was dating Angela, I realized I had been deceived.
lie n.
Definition: a dishonest statement; deception; something that is not the truth
Example: When he said he was at the movies, she knew it was a lie. She had seem him on the street with another woman.
fine line n.
Definition: a small difference
Example: There is a fine line between asking a friend for a favor and using them. I try not to ask my friends for anything.
Coming clean expr.
Definition: confessing to doing wrong; telling the truth after telling a lie
Example: I lied to you. I have to come clean and ask for your forgiveness.
stretching the truth expr.
Definition: embellishing or withholding part of the real story
Example: When you said the bear chased you, you were stretching the truth. Yes, you ran, but the bear didn't run after you.
can't sleep at night expr.
Definition: feel guilty; are troubled or worried
Example: Ever since I fought with my brother, I can't sleep at night. I just keep thinking about all the mean things I said.
Liar, Liar
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Truth and lies. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. We can be deceived without even knowing it. Look at politicians. It seems like they are always lying.
DialogueSometimes we decide to lie, maybe to avoid confrontation or embarrassment. Maybe we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings.
The fact is that we have all lied. Listen to Kevin and Amanda tell the truth about lying.
Kevin: I have a friend who I met about three years ago and she claimed she had married her husband after they knew each other for six months and it turns out they’d only known each other for four weeks.
Amanda: What?
Kevin: What do you think about that? So she lied. I mean, it didn’t offend me but I was surprised.
Amanda: So why do you think she lied about it? She obviously felt like she had to.
Kevin: Well, you know, she felt… I mean, she felt very self-conscious. People will say, “What do you mean you got married after four weeks?” You know, six months seems a little bit more reasonable, I guess.
Amanda: How do you feel about being deceived by a friend?
Kevin: I didn’t mind it. I mean, for that, because I met her after the fact.
Amanda: No, lying’s an interesting thing. Some people lie naturally and have a difficult time telling the truth.
Kevin: Are you lying to me right now?
Amanda: You’ll never know, will you? And other people, they feel uncomfortable lying.
Kevin: Yeah.
Amanda: They have to be honest every moment of the day or they can’t sleep at night and I think that’s you.
Kevin: Um, at times it is me. I, I, I do struggle with, even, you know, stretching the truth and… you know? But I think that can cause problems too, you know, because I don’t think…
Amanda: Being too honest?
Kevin: Yeah.
Amanda: Coming clean too often?
Kevin: Yeah.
Amanda: Sometimes. There’s a fine line. Lying comes in handy.
Kevin: Yes.
DiscussionKevin’s friend lied to him because she was afraid Kevin would judge her for marrying someone she had just met. Eventually she came clean. He forgave her.
When Kevin says “after the fact” he means that he met her after she got married.
Have you ever lied?
How did you justify your lie?
Vocab
self-conscious adj.
Definition:
aware of yourself; insecure, worried or overly concerned with something about yourself
Example:
He's so self-conscious about his acne.
offend v.
Definition:
insult; hurt someone's feelings
Example:
Would it offend you if I canceled our dinner plans?
comes in handy expr.
Definition:
is useful; is convenient
Example:
A flashlight comes in handy when you are camping because you can see in the dark.
lying v.
Definition:
the act of telling a lie; being dishonest
Example:
You can always tell if I'm lying. My face gets red.
deceived v.
Definition:
lied to; mislead; betrayed
Example:
When I heard that he was dating Angela, I realized I had been deceived.
lie n.
Definition:
a dishonest statement; deception; something that is not the truth
Example:
When he said he was at the movies, she knew it was a lie. She had seem him on the street with another woman.
fine line n.
Definition:
a small difference
Example:
There is a fine line between asking a friend for a favor and using them. I try not to ask my friends for anything.
Coming clean expr.
Definition:
confessing to doing wrong; telling the truth after telling a lie
Example:
I lied to you. I have to come clean and ask for your forgiveness.
stretching the truth expr.
Definition:
embellishing or withholding part of the real story
Example:
When you said the bear chased you, you were stretching the truth. Yes, you ran, but the bear didn't run after you.
can't sleep at night expr.
Definition:
feel guilty; are troubled or worried
Example:
Ever since I fought with my brother, I can't sleep at night. I just keep thinking about all the mean things I said.