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It's a phrase we've all heard a million times. White Lies.

Probably my favorite definition of white lies is this one.

Untrust that reduce net harm. Or at least that's the goal.

The origin of the phrase white lies is unclear.

A few online sources say it has nothing to do with its current meaning and

track it back to the sad tale of Gerald White, a good natured liar in the 17th

century who falsely boasted about committing a murder and was executed by the

first Duke of Buckingham. If white sliders the first instance of a white lie,

then it also might be one of the first examples of a false confession.

The Oxford English Dictionary places the origin of the phrase later in 1741.

In that year, the Gentleman's magazine wrote that a certain lady of the highest

quality makes a judicious distinction between a white lie and a black lie.

A white lie is that which is not intended to injure anybody in his fortune,

interest or reputation, but only to gratify a garrulous disposition and the

itch of amusing people by telling them wonderful stories.

Of course, this origin story also reflects the possible racial overtones of the phrase,

similar to the contrast between white magic and black magic and white hat and black hat.

The phrase white lies is even found its way into legal jurisprudence and specifically the issue

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