Barefaced lie/liar

Origin of: Barefaced lie/liar

Barefaced lie/liar

In the 16th century, barefaced meant simply shaven or without a beard but by the 17th century, its meaning had shifted to shameless effrontery. Therefore, a barefaced lie is one that is told brazenly, openly and without disguise. The person who tells such a lie is a barefaced liar.