patent lie vs. blatant lie

patent lie vs. blatant lie
 Thread starterDaffodil100  Start dateDec 21, 2008
Daffodil100
Daffodil100
Senior Member
Chinese
Dec 21, 2008
#1
Could you tell me what the difference between "patent lie" and "blatant lie"? Here're definitions from Cambridge Dictionary.

I think patent lie focuses on a lie is obvious; blantant lie focuses on a lie is not only obvious but also intentional.

What do you think?

patent (OBVIOUS) / adjective [before noun] FORMAL
very obvious:
a patent lie
a patent disregard of the law
"No, " he replied, with patent distaste
;

blatant adjective
describes something bad that is very obvious or intentional:
a blatant lie
The whole episode was a blatant attempt to gain publicity.

Thomas Tompion
Member Emeritus
Southern England
English - England
Dec 21, 2008
#2
Hi Daffodil,

I think there is a difference: patent is less emotive and means that it can be clearly shown to be a lie; blatant stresses the likelihood of malice and means that the lie is obvious.

I think that dictionary has got it pretty well.

I'm afraid I disagree with you about blatant implying that the lie is intentional. To lie means to make a deliberate attempt to deceive. When someone says something which is false, as many of us do every day, he isn't necessarily lying; he may very well be honestly mistaken. All lies are intentional.
Last edited: Dec 21, 2008
Daffodil100
Daffodil100
Senior Member
Chinese
Dec 21, 2008
#3
Hi Thomas Tompion,

Thank you for your elucidation.

Are following applications of them I just created right?

This was a patent lie that he said he had eaten food. I think he just didn't want to trouble his mother. (Just indictate the lie is obvious)

It is a blatant lie that he said he saw Tom killed Lisa. I think that is because he wanted to get back at Tom. ( This is a malicious lie. )
audiolaik
audiolaik
Senior Member
Poland
Polish
Dec 21, 2008
#4
Hello,

You might find the following link helpful, I think.
Daffodil100
Daffodil100
Senior Member
Chinese
Dec 21, 2008
#5
audiolaik said:
Hello,

You might find the following link helpful, I think.

Thank you. You are helpful. Sorry, I forgot to search the forum but only looked up the forum dictionary.