Is It a ‘Bald-Faced’ or ‘Bold-Faced’ Lie?
When someone tells a blatant, shameless lie, we sometimes call it out as being a “bald-faced lie.” But hang on: Should it be “bold-faced” instead? As it happens, both are acceptable in modern English, although linguistic purists might argue that “bald-faced” is more appropriate, simply because it’s closer to the
expression’s etymological origin. The original expression was actually “barefaced lie.” The word “barefaced,” initially meaning “beardless” or “unmasked” — literally having the face uncovered — has been around since at least 1600. The word then evolved to mean, metaphorically, “open” or “unconcealed.” A barefaced lie, therefore, was one told without...
