Half a truth is often a great lie.

Leaving things out is the most reliable way to mislead while keeping your hands clean. Every sentence checks out, nothing can be pinned on you, and the other person still walks away with a false picture, which is why partial honesty often does more damage than a flat falsehood. The omission carries the deception.

Next time you give an account of something awkward, notice what you are tempted to leave out and ask why. Saying the inconvenient half is usually quick and rarely as costly as you expect. It also spares people from wondering what else you left out.