Whats the difference between a white lie and a lie?

Question

Why do they call it a white lie

Answer 1

a lie is used when the lying party believes that the counter party has no knowledge of the truth.

a white lie takes place when both parties are fully aware that both of them know the truth, and yet they pretend to have no knowledge of it and "act".

Answer 2

A white lie is when you lie to not hurt someone's feelings.

Such as "honey do these pants make my butt look big"

husband "no honey you look wonderful"

A lie would be like "did you eat cookies before dinner?"

"No I didn't"

Answer 3

white lie is just stretching the truth a bit...a lie is totally straying from it

Answer 4

The intention.

Both are lies. But one has the intention of not hurting someones feeling and the other have the intention of deceiving

Answer 5

"A little white lie"  is not intended to hurt anyone, but it seems necessary to avoid a negative situation.  It is a "lie" with good intentions, therefore not just a mean lie.  A lie is intended to hide a truth or to cover a mistake.  It is totally negative and self serving for the one telling the lie.

Reality says that a lie is a lie, whether it be a little lie with good intentions or a bigger lie with selfish intentions.  Neither lie is a good lie.