Vocabulary
Lügen haben kurze Beine.
/ˈlyːɡn̩ ˈhaːbn̩ ˈkʊʁtsə ˈbaɪ̯nə/· phrase
Lies don't get you far; the truth will out
The warning when someone's story won't hold: lies can't run far before they are caught. Parents say it to children; colleagues say it with a wink.
CEFR C1Frequency ●●●●●proverb
Your memory
New
Learning
Familiar
Strong
Mastered
One word, many lives
Tap a meaning. Real German isn't a dictionary translation.
Lügen haben kurze Beine.
a lie is soon found out
Er hat behauptet, er sei krank gewesen – aber Lügen haben kurze Beine.
He claimed he'd been ill — but lies don't get you far.
Common combinations
- Du weißt doch: Lügen haben kurze Beine.You know: the truth will out.
- Wie heißt es so schön: Lügen haben kurze Beine.As the saying goes: lies don't get you far.
Similar & opposite
≈ Synonyms
Die Wahrheit kommt ans Licht.
Common learner mistakes
- Lügen hat kurze Beine.Lügen haben kurze Beine.Lügen is the plural noun (die Lügen), so the verb is plural: haben.
Real examples
- Er hatte sich krankgemeldet, doch am Montag stand sein Urlaubsfoto im Netz. Lügen haben eben kurze Beine.He had called in sick, but on Monday his holiday photo was online. Lies don't get you far.
- Sag ihm lieber die Wahrheit – Lügen haben kurze Beine.Better tell him the truth — the truth will out.
- So geschickt sie sich auch herausredet: Lügen haben kurze Beine.However cleverly she talks her way out: lies don't get you far.
