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Conversation Advance · Module 12 · Unit 56

Honesty vs. Politeness

C1 Advanced Upper

Learning Objectives

In this lesson, you will discuss white lies vs. serious lies and learn practical vocabulary for daily communication.

Discussion

Direction: Answer these questions.
  1. Where do you draw the line between a white lie and a serious lie?
  2. Have you ever told a lie that you later regretted?
  3. Why do we feel the need to use white lies in social situations?

New Words & Expressions

Direction: Listen and repeat these words with your teacher.

  • White lie

    noun

    /waɪt laɪ/

    Meaning:A harmless or trivial lie, especially one told to avoid hurting someone's feelings.

    I told a white lie about why I was late to the dinner party.

    Real Life Tip:

    Generally accepted as a social lubricant.

  • Deceptive

    adjective

    /dɪˈseptɪv/

    Meaning:Giving an appearance or impression different from the true one.

    The marketing was deceptive, promising results that weren't possible.

    Real Life Tip:

    Associated with unethical or illegal behavior.

  • Back out

    phrasal verb

    /bæk aʊt/

    Meaning:To withdraw from a commitment or promise.

    I had to back out of the plans because of an emergency.

    Real Life Tip:

    Requires tact to avoid being seen as unreliable.

  • Caught red-handed

    idiom

    /kɔːt red hændɪd/

    Meaning:To be caught in the act of committing a crime or a lie.

    He was caught red-handed when the manager saw the real report.

    Real Life Tip:

    Implies an unavoidable moment of shame.

  • BS (Bullshit)

    slang

    /bʊlʃɪt/

    Meaning:Nonsense, lies, or deceptive talk.

    I don't have time for this BS; let's just be honest.

    Real Life Tip:

    Vulgar but extremely common in informal American English.

Conversation

Direction:

  • Listen carefully as your teacher reads the conversation aloud.
  • Role-play the conversation with your teacher
Michael and Emma discuss if it is okay to lie to save their project.
  • Michael
    Is it ever okay to tell a white lie to a potential investor?
  • Emma
    Absolutely not. Any deceptive behavior could ruin our reputation.
  • Michael
    I agree, I just wanted to make the progress sound better.

Q&A

Direction: Answer the questions based on the conversation.
  1. What was Michael considering doing?
  2. Why does Emma say they should avoid deception?
  3. What does Emma say is everything in a startup?

Exercise

Direction: Choose the correct answer to complete each sentence, then read it aloud. Each question gives you 5 Points.

  1. What is a white lie?

  2. What does deceptive mean?

  3. He was caught ____-handed with the evidence.

  4. I had to ____ out of the meeting.

  5. I / time / for / this / have / no / BS

  6. the / risk / not / is / it

Ask Your Teacher

Direction: Ask your teacher these questions.
  1. In your view, are white lies ever truly harmless?
  2. What are the long-term consequences of building a reputation on deceptive information?
  3. When is it better to back out of a situation than to continue with a lie?

Your Time To Speak

Direction: Answer using the language you have learned in this lesson. Talk about yourself!
  1. Why do some people lie so easily?
  2. How can I tell if someone is being deceptive?
  3. Is there a difference between a white lie and a lie of omission?
  4. Have you ever caught someone red-handed?
  5. Is it okay to lie if it protects someone else?
  6. How do you regain trust after being caught in a lie?
  7. Do you think honesty is always the best policy?
  8. What is the most common reason people lie at work?
  9. How do you deal with people who give you a lot of BS?
  10. Is it better to tell a painful truth or a comfortable lie?
Emma
It's not worth the risk. Imagine being caught red-handed.
  • Michael
    Fair point. I don't want to deal with that kind of BS later.
  • Emma
    Exactly. If we can't hit the target, we should just admit it.
  • Michael
    You're right. I'd rather be honest than have to back out later.
  • Emma
    Trust is everything in a startup.