Feed someone a line 👐🗣️🤥

Meaning

To tell someone something you know is untrue, often to deceive or manipulate them.

Origin

Imagine a stage actor, rehearsing their lines in the wings. Their coach, or a fellow actor, might be nearby, whispering the next cue – essentially 'feeding' them the line. This practice of literally feeding someone their lines on stage evolved into a metaphor for supplying someone with fabricated information, words they wouldn't otherwise say, to deceive others. It suggests a prepared, insincere performance, much like an actor delivering rehearsed, untruthful dialogue.

🎭🤥 deception 🗣️ communication 🔒 secrets ⚖️✅ honesty

Feed someone a line represented with emoji👐🗣️🤥

This playful arrangement of hands, a mouth, and a lying face functions as a visual riddle, challenging the viewer to decipher the subtle art of deception. It serves as a delightful meditation on the words we choose and the stories we tell, sometimes with a wink and a nudge, other times with a more deliberate wink. Note how the open hands, ready to impart wisdom, are juxtaposed with the telling gesture of the tongue, hinting at the narratives spun from thin air.

Examples

  • He tried to feed me a line about why he was late, but I didn't believe him.
  • Don't let them feed you a line; always check the facts for yourself.
  • The little gnome tried to feed the knight a line about a hidden treasure, hoping to distract him.
  • She suspected the talking squirrel was feeding her a line when he claimed the acorns were enchanted.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'feed someone a line' a formal or informal idiom?

'Feed someone a line' is an informal idiom, commonly used in casual conversation rather than formal writing or speeches. Its theatrical origin lends it a slightly dramatic flair that suits informal contexts best.

Can you 'feed someone a line' to help them, or is it always deceptive?

While 'feed someone a line' typically implies deception, it can occasionally be used humorously or gently, such as helping a friend with a white lie or giving encouraging but exaggerated praise. However, the core of the idiom still involves providing information that isn't entirely factual.

What's the opposite of 'feed someone a line'?

The closest opposite of 'feed someone a line' would be to 'tell someone the unvarnished truth' or 'give someone the straight story.' These phrases emphasize honesty and directness, directly contrasting the deceptive nature of feeding a line.

Does 'feed someone a line' require the speaker to know the information is false?

Yes, the speaker providing the line typically knows it's untrue or misleading, as the idiom's essence lies in deliberately supplying fabricated information. It's akin to a puppeteer controlling their puppet's words and actions.

Similar to "feed someone a line"

Pull the wool over someone's eyes
Both phrases involve deception, but 'pull the wool over someone's eyes' emphasizes the blocking of perception, making the deception seem more like a clever trick than a crafted lie
Spin a yarn
Both involve telling a story that isn't true, but 'spin a yarn' often implies a more elaborate, entertaining, or fanciful fabrication, whereas 'feed someone a line' suggests a more direct, often manipulative, falsehood
Give someone the business
Both imply deceitful dealings, but 'give someone the business' is more of a slangy, American term for cheating or swindling someone out of money or something valuable, a more aggressive cousin to 'feed someone a line'

Opposite of "feed someone a line"

Tell it like it is
This phrase champions blunt honesty, arguing for transparency in a way that's the direct counterpoint to the covert manipulation of 'feed someone a line'
Lay one's cards on the table
This practice advocates for complete openness and lack of pretense, standing in stark contrast to the calculated falsehood inherent in 'feed someone a line'

Related to "feed someone a line"

Sell a bill of goods
This phrase shares the deceptive core of telling someone something untrue, but specifically focuses on convincing them to buy into a product, idea, or plan that's ultimately worthless
String someone along
While 'feed someone a line' is about a specific untrue statement, 'string someone along' implies a prolonged period of deception, keeping someone hopeful or invested through a series of lies or omissions
Dog and pony show
This phrase describes a whole elaborate presentation designed to deceive or impress, often used in business or politics, suggesting the crafted narrative that might contain many 'lines' fed to an audience
Smoke and mirrors
This metaphor describes deceptive tactics meant to distract and obscure the truth, the very atmosphere in which someone might 'feed someone a line'