True Lies
What is true lies?
Key facts
A true lie is a lie that becomes true when it is announced, a concept studied in logic and deception research. It is also the title of a 1994 action comedy film.
Context
In logic, a true lie is a statement that becomes true when it is announced, studied in the logic of announcements where the announcing agent is not modelled [1]. The concept also appears in deception research, where telling the truth to deceive is called paltering [2]. The 1994 film True Lies, directed by James Cameron, is an action comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis [4].
Documented claims
- A paper titled 'The myth of true lies' argues about the definition of lying and revises the standard view of lying as an untruthful assertion made with intent to deceive. [3]
- An APA article uses 'true lies' in the context of deception research and says the ability to deceive by telling the truth is called paltering. [2]
- The film True Lies is an action comedy written and directed by James Cameron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. [4]
Related
Questions and answers
Is True Lies a hit or flop?
The film was a commercial success, grossing over $378 million worldwide [4].
Did Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold get along?
The sources do not provide information on their personal relationship [4].
Sources
- True lies — wangyanjing.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- TRUTH LIES definition in American English — collinsdictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- True lies and attempted lies — tandfonline.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- True Lies (1994) - Plot — imdb.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)