Do you think small, polite "white lies" are part of good manners, or are they dishonest?

A natural way to answer

I'd say polite white lies are usually a form of kindness rather than deceit. Telling someone their haircut looks great when you're unsure does no harm and spares their feelings. The intention matters, and these little courtesies are what keep social life running smoothly.

Key phrases to use

• sugar-coat — make something unpleasant sound nicer or gentler than it really is“I won't sugar-coat it: the food was awful.”
• bend the truth — say something not quite true, usually to be tactful or avoid trouble“He bent the truth a little to avoid hurting her feelings.”
• lose any sleep over it — worry or feel guilty about something“I told a small white lie, but I won't lose any sleep over it.”