Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Ein Lügengebäude ist wackelig
English translation:
You can't build on a foundation of lies
German term
The right words for the right price
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, English to German
Ein Lügengebäude ist wackelig
Is there a good English equvalent to this? Tissue of lies just doesn't sit right with the whole structural metaphor, and I'm not sure about a literal translation. This is for a novel, someone's memoirs. The situation that the quote comes from is that the writer is being grilled under oath, and because her remains truthful, his story holds up. Any help is appreciated!
Dec 16, 2007 17:40: Steffen Walter changed "Field (write-in)" from "Ein Lügengebäude" to "(none)"
Dec 29, 2007 09:28: Textklick Created KOG entry
Jan 4, 2008 00:00: Textklick changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/19251">Textklick's</a> old entry - "Ein Lügengebäude ist wackelig"" to ""You can't build on a foundation of lies""
Proposed translations
You can't build on a foundation of lies
A house of lies stands on sandy foundations
| agree |
Frosty
: Howzabout "wobbly foundations"? It gets some 600+ Googlies, covering most everything from religion & evolution to economics! Where these three subjects are concerned there is lots of scope for telling porkies! Nuff said.
1 hr
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| agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
: yes... maybe to avoid the distraction of "lies stands": A house of lies is built on sand.
4 hrs
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Germany
Practical business experience, reliable
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English to German
a house of cards
| agree |
Claire Cox
: Found this quote: "Eventually, the truth will emerge. And when it does, this house of cards, built of deceit, will fall." — Robert C. Byrd - maybe that could be worked in somehow?
9 hrs
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If you want a house built on sand, start with a foundation of lies
www.msco.com/blog/moments-of-truth-moments-of-lies - 74k - Cached - Similar pages
Does this sound literary enough?
| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
: can't open your website, but sounds good
2 hrs
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thanks, Ingeborg!
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Austria
b2b/economics/marketing/market research/
Native in: German
Works in: German to English, French to German, English to German
you can't build on lies
Retired as of Jan 2019!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
tissue of lies
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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-12-15 15:48:12 GMT)
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it's all a flimsy tissue of lies
| neutral |
Jim Tucker (X)
: this doesn't have much to do with kleenex - or fragility - in this phrase "tissue" emphasizes complexity and multi-layeredness
3 hrs
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a house of lies is built on shaky grounds / tower of lies do not stand
tower of lies do not stand on solid ground
house of lies are built on shaky grounds
pack of lies can't stand straight against the truth
Germany
Competent, fast & reliable
Native in: German
Works in: English to German, German to English
Lies don't last.
Greenland
Will work for blubber
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Danish to English
You can't hide (forever) behind a veil of lies
"You can't hide (forever) behind a veil of lies. My story is watertight, so no matter how hard they try to trip me up, I've got myself covered."
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