Chrysti The Wordsmith: White Lie

Hello I'm Christie the wordsmith a listener to this series recently asked if the expression white lie has racist connotations. Now I hadn't considered this metaphorical phrase in some time so before I started researching its origin for any connection with racism I looked up the term in a variety of sources. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a white lie as quote an often trivial diplomatic or well intentioned untruth. The Collins English Dictionary says it's a minor or unimportant lie especially one uttered in the interests of tact or politeness and a white lie defined by the Oxford English Dictionary is a falsehood rendered praiseworthy by its motive with these definitions in mind I went to searching for the source and chronology of the expression. I am happy to report that the phrase has nothing to do with skin color but rather with our cultural notions of color symbolism white of course represents purity candor and innocence in many western cultures. While black symbolizes the

antithesis of those values we see the distinction in the notions of white magic which is beneficence and black magic which is considered harmful. And so following that logic a white lie might be likened to an untruth swaddle in a christening gown a wedding dress a pharmacist's smock according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The expression was first cited in an English document in 1741. I'm Christie the wordsmith. CHRISTIE The wordsmith is sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Zoot enterprises a high tech firm in Bozeman Montana offering challenging careers and innovative solutions for the financial services industry. Zoot web dot com.