Lies have short legs.
Lies have short legs.
Meaning in plain English
Lies given short legs picture deception as unable to travel or endure far. The saying gives falsehood an imagined limit.
Example
Someone checks a repeated false claim and helps correct it instead of assuming it will disappear unaided.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
A responsible reading does not promise that every lie is quickly exposed or corrects itself. A useful application values checking evidence and addressing consequences rather than waiting for an automatic failure. The image is not an empirical detection rule or a reason to judge a speaker by appearance.
When to use it
Use it to discuss limits of deception with active evidence-checking retained.
Keep in mind
No guaranteed exposure or timely end of every lie is established.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Country attributed by the collection
Egypt · source-attributed; earliest origin unverified
- Source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference
Supplied reference B; unit 628; PDF page 57; collection label: Egypt
Reuse and collection notes ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · supplied collection
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Contributor-confirmed reuse permission
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
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