Two Truths and a Lie: 400+ Ideas, Good Lies and Examples

How to Play Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie needs no cards, no board and no prep beyond a minute of thinking. Each player shares three statements about themselves: two are true, one is made up. Everyone else tries to figure out which one is the lie.

1. Gather the group. Sit or stand where everyone can see and hear each other. Pick who goes first with rock-paper-scissors or start with the youngest player, then go clockwise.
2. Write three statements. Give everyone up to two or three minutes to come up with two truths and one believable lie. Writing them down keeps your wording steady when your turn comes.
3. Share all three. Read them in any order, in the same even tone, so the lie doesn’t stand out.
4. Ask questions. The group gets about a minute to grill the speaker. The speaker answers without giving the lie away, and anyone defending a made-up story has to improvise details, which is where the clues come from.
5. Vote at the same time. Everyone guesses individually and at once, so an early guess doesn’t sway the rest.
6. Reveal. The speaker says which statement was the lie, usually followed by the story behind the strangest truth.
7. Rotate. Keep going until everyone has had a turn.

Scoring is optional. The game has no official winner, but a point system adds a little competition. Give one point to every player who spots the lie and one point to the storyteller for each person they fool (or a single point if most of the group guesses wrong). Play to a target such as 10 points, or simply add up the scores once everyone has had a turn. A pencil and paper are all you need to track it.

Group size and time. Three players is the practical minimum: with two, guessing is a coin flip unless you play the head-to-head version. Four to twelve is the sweet spot, and it still works with a group of 15. Budget two to three minutes per person, including questions and the reveal, so a team of eight takes about 20 minutes. With more than ten people, split into smaller groups of four to six and keep a full round under about 15 minutes.

How to Come Up With Good Lies for Two Truths and a Lie

The best lie isn’t the most creative one. It’s the one that sounds like something you might have done, or want to do, but haven’t. And the best truths are things you normally wouldn’t do but actually did. A lie that’s too far-fetched gives itself away; a truth that sounds impossible makes everyone doubt the wrong statement.

• Hide a plain lie between two strange truths. Two outrageous statements pull all the attention, and the simple one slips by.
• Or keep all three at the same level. When every statement is equally believable, the group has nothing to latch onto.
• Swap one detail of a real fact. If you’ve been to Mexico, say Brazil. If you love chocolate, say you hate it. If you’ve broken your arm twice, claim you’ve never broken a bone. Changing a place name or a number works too, but don’t overdo it, since it can annoy players.
• Use a truth that sounds like a lie. It makes people second-guess themselves.
• Use “never” statements. “I have never been stung by a bee” is almost impossible to disprove.
• Inflate a number. Counts, distances and ages are the easiest details to fake.
• Go modest. A small achievement is more believable than a grand one, and an impressive lie is easy to spot.
• Be careful with strong opinions. “I hate ice cream” is easy to say but easy to question, and one follow-up usually exposes it.
• Rehearse a few specifics. Know where, when and with whom your fake story happened so you can answer questions without hesitating.
• Keep it plausible. “I can speak 22 languages” is an instant giveaway. “I can speak three languages fluently” is just believable enough to make people doubt.
• Make the lie specific. Vague statements sound fake. Instead of “I’ve been to Asia,” try “I got stuck in a typhoon in the Philippines for three days.”
• Match the energy. If both your truths are wild, the lie needs to be wild too. If they’re subtle, keep the lie subtle.
• Borrow a true story. Take something that really happened to a friend or sibling and claim it as yours. You’ll be able to answer follow-up questions with real details.
• Know your audience. With close friends, go personal. With coworkers, keep it PG. With people you just met, pick universal topics. Avoid lies that close friends can easily check, and skip technical jargon or statements that are too obvious.
• Mix up your strategies. Use a different trick every round, or your friends will figure out your pattern and start beating you.

Put the joke in the truths. Here is the same set of facts played two ways. The round that gets caught: “I have a pretty normal desk job,” “I have never been stung by a bee” and “I once got chased across a petting zoo by an ostrich,” where the ostrich is the lie. Everyone picks it, because it’s the only statement with a story in it. The round that wins: “I once got chased across a petting zoo by an ostrich” (true), “I have eaten cereal with a fork to avoid washing a spoon” (true) and “I have a cousin I have never met” (the lie). The room spends all its energy arguing about the ostrich while the boring sentence walks free. And the odds are on your side: a meta-analysis by Charles Bond and Bella DePaulo pooled 206 studies with nearly 25,000 participants and found that people spot lies only 54% of the time, barely better than a coin flip.

Deliver it like it’s boring. Read all three statements in the same flat tone, at the same length and with the same amount of detail. Don’t smile at only one of them, don’t over-explain, and don’t insist that something is true. Move the lie to a different position each round instead of always saving it for last. One classic order is a simple truth, then the outrageous statement, then the simple lie. Keep a straight face: players often giggle when they lie. And make every funny statement about yourself, not your partner or a friend. Self-deprecation reads as confidence and relaxes the room.

How to spot a lie. Ask pointed follow-up questions before you vote and listen for answers that get vague. Watch for nervousness, body language and tone (some people instinctively look away when they lie), but don’t trust them too much: they are not reliable, and a good player will act nervous on purpose. If everyone guesses right, the lie wasn’t sneaky enough, so try a subtler one next round.

RoomPlay game Good at believable lies?

In Fibbage everyone writes a fake answer to a strange question, then the room votes and you score when friends fall for your bluff.

Play Fibbage

Two Truths and a Lie Examples: 8 Complete Rounds

Try to guess the lie in each round before you open it. Each one shows a different trick from the list above.

1. I have never eaten a McDonald’s burger. I ran a half-marathon last year. I have three older brothers.

   The lieThe half-marathon. Two oddly specific truths make the ordinary-sounding lie harder to spot.

2. I can solve a Rubik’s cube. I once shook hands with a head of state. I’m scared of butterflies.

   The lieThe Rubik’s cube. A plain lie between two strange truths is the classic setup.

3. I was born on a leap day. I have never watched Titanic. I used to teach swimming.

   The lieThe leap day. A calendar fact sounds too specific to make up, which is exactly why it works.

4. My first car cost $300. I’ve been scuba diving. I’m banned from a friend’s board game night for winning too much.

   The lieScuba diving. The joke statement is the true one, and that’s half the fun.

5. I speak conversational Japanese. I have never been stung by a bee. I once camped alone for a week.

   The lieThe bee sting. “Never” claims are hard to disprove.

6. I was in my college’s brochure. I hate ice cream. I’ve run out of gas on the highway twice.

   The lieHating ice cream. Strong opinions are easy to fake, but one follow-up question usually exposes them.

7. I’ve broken the same arm twice. I met my best friend in a lost-luggage line. I’ve read The Lord of the Rings five times.

   The lieThe five readings. Numbers are the easiest details to inflate.

8. I keep a plant alive that’s older than my career. I have never used a selfie stick. I won a regional quiz championship.

   The lieThe quiz championship. Modest achievements are more believable than grand ones.

Best Lies for Two Truths and a Lie

These good lies work because they are ordinary, specific and hard to check. Swap in one of them, or use it as a template and change the details to fit you.

1. I once met a famous person at an airport.
2. I’m allergic to cats.
3. I have never had a cavity.
4. I was on my school’s debate team.
5. I have read every book on my bookshelf.
6. I don’t like coffee.
7. I was an extra in a movie.
8. I can drive a stick shift.
9. I once won money in a raffle.
10. I speak a second language, badly but proudly.
11. I have run a 10K.
12. I have never lost my phone.
13. I have never had a nickname that stuck.
14. I can’t stand the smell of coffee.
15. I have a cousin I’ve never met.
16. I was in a school play once.
17. I have never been stung by a bee.
18. I always sleep on the same side of the bed.
19. I have never changed a tire.
20. I owned a bike I barely used.
21. I have never had surgery.
22. I have never dyed my hair.
23. I have never broken a bone.
24. I drink two cups of coffee every morning.
25. I’m the youngest in my family.
26. I’m left-handed.

Notice the pattern: almost every one is a “never,” a small habit or a modest claim. Put one between two weird truths and the group will usually pick the wrong statement.

Funny Two Truths and a Lie Ideas

Funny statements tend to get guessed first because they draw attention. The trick is to put the humor in your truths and keep the lie plain and forgettable. Funny truths usually fit one of four templates: a small, harmless rule break, an oddly specific skill, a wrong belief you held with total confidence or a minor public embarrassment. Use real details and numbers and keep the stakes tiny.

Everyday absurd

1. I have apologized out loud to a piece of furniture I walked into.
2. I own a mug I can’t stand and still can’t bring myself to throw away.
3. I have hidden in a store aisle to avoid small talk with someone I actually like.
4. I keep a plastic bag full of other plastic bags.
5. I have narrated my own chores in a nature documentary voice.
6. I once waved back at someone who was waving at the person behind me, and fully committed.
7. I have a set route through the grocery store and I refuse to break it.
8. I have said thank you to an ATM.
9. I rehearse phone calls before I make them, including the goodbye.
10. I have pretended not to be home for a delivery I ordered myself.
11. There’s a drawer in my home I haven’t fully opened in over a year.
12. My ringtone hasn’t changed in ten years.
13. I can quote an entire movie from memory.
14. I cried at an animated movie in the last year.
15. I still can’t snap my fingers.
16. I say “just one more episode” and sincerely mean it every time.
17. I have appeared in the background of a TV news report.

Small disasters

1. I once locked myself out of my house wearing only a bathrobe.
2. I locked myself out of my house twice in the same day.
3. I have walked into a glass door in front of a full waiting room.
4. I once sent a message meant for my group chat to my manager.
5. I got on a bus going the exact opposite direction and didn’t notice for 20 minutes.
6. I once tried to unlock a stranger’s car with complete confidence.
7. I fell asleep on a train and rode the whole line back.
8. I once put salt in my coffee and drank the whole thing rather than admit it.
9. I showed up to an appointment exactly one day early.
10. I once introduced two people and forgot both of their names mid-sentence.
11. I have sneezed hard enough to hurt my back.
12. I once wore two different shoes to work and didn’t notice until lunch.
13. I once called my teacher “Mom” in front of the whole class.
14. I once got stuck in an elevator with my boss for an hour.
15. I once walked into a glass door at a job interview.
16. I have been kicked out of a buffet for eating too much.
17. I got lost in IKEA for over an hour as an adult.
18. I have been chased by a goose, and I lost.
19. I once walked into a stranger’s house thinking it was my Airbnb.
20. I accidentally called 911 while trying to set my alarm.
21. I once pocket-dialed my boss during a rant about my boss.
22. I once tried to push open a pull door for a solid 30 seconds while people watched.
23. I once microwaved aluminum foil because I didn’t know you couldn’t.
24. I once tried to pet a “dog” that turned out to be a raccoon.
25. I have fallen asleep in a movie theater and snored loudly.
26. I tripped and fell at my own wedding.

Embarrassing moments

1. I once split my pants in public.
2. I walked around an entire party with toilet paper stuck to my shoe.
3. I threw up on a roller coaster, on the person behind me.
4. I once waved at my own reflection thinking it was someone else.
5. I got caught talking to myself in a grocery store.
6. I clogged the toilet at my in-laws’ house on my first visit.
7. I have sleepwalked into my roommate’s room.
8. I’ve never been caught singing badly in the car.
9. I have cut my own hair and regretted it before I was done.
10. I knocked over a full drink twice during the same dinner.
11. I once went on a date with spinach in my teeth the entire time.
12. I called my partner by my ex’s name, in front of my partner’s parents.
13. I accidentally went to the wrong funeral and sat through the whole thing.
14. I got caught dancing alone in an elevator on the security cameras, and they showed it at the company party.
15. I once fell off a chair during a work presentation.
16. I tripped walking across a stage to accept an award.
17. I once wore my pants backward for half a day.
18. I laughed so hard I snorted milk out of my nose on a first date.
19. I cried at a dog food commercial in front of friends.
20. I once told a long story and realized nobody was listening.

Oddly specific talents

1. I can identify a brand of chips by the crunch alone.
2. I can fold a fitted sheet perfectly on the first try.
3. I can whistle two notes at the same time.
4. I can guess the temperature outside within two degrees.
5. I can recite a commercial from my childhood word for word.
6. I can tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue.
7. I can name every item in my fridge right now from memory.
8. I can wiggle my ears without moving anything else on my face.
9. I can fall asleep in under three minutes on a hard floor.
10. I can tell which neighbor just got home by the sound of their front door.
11. I once won a karaoke contest without knowing the song.
12. I have been mistaken for a celebrity more than once.
13. I once won a contest because I was the only person who entered.

Food crimes

1. I have eaten cereal with a fork to avoid washing a spoon.
2. I put hot sauce on food that already comes with hot sauce.
3. I once ordered dessert first and skipped the actual meal.
4. I ate the same dinner eleven days in a row and didn’t get tired of it.
5. I have eaten cold leftover pizza for breakfast more than 50 times.
6. I have never finished a bag of salad before it went bad.
7. I microwave my ice cream for a few seconds before eating it.
8. I have eaten a whole rotisserie chicken standing over the sink.
9. There’s a snack hidden in my home that nobody else knows about.
10. I dip my fries in something most people find genuinely upsetting.
11. I have eaten cereal for dinner more than 200 times this year.

Things I believed for way too long

1. I thought the plural of moose was “meese” until I was an adult.
2. I sang the wrong lyrics to a famous song for about 15 years.
3. I believed thunder was clouds bumping into each other well into my teens.
4. I assumed avocados grew underground.
5. I thought my hometown was nationally famous.
6. I didn’t know how to load a dishwasher properly until someone staged an intervention.
7. I spelled “et cetera” as “ex cetera” for most of my life.
8. I called a coworker by the wrong name for two full months.
9. I used a common kitchen tool wrong for years before anyone corrected me.
10. I believed a family joke was a real historical fact until embarrassingly recently.

Random and weird

1. I once found $500 on the ground and kept it.
2. I have a phobia of cotton balls.
3. I was born during a power outage.
4. I have been struck by lightning, sort of: it hit the tree next to me.
5. I can dislocate my shoulder on command.
6. I once found a message in a bottle at the beach.
7. I have milked a cow.
8. I can recite pi to 50 digits.
9. I have been hypnotized, and it actually worked.
10. I once lived without a phone for six months on purpose.
11. I can say “hello” in 15 languages.
12. I can identify any dog breed on sight.
13. I have been in a music video.
14. I was named after a fictional character.
15. I have won over $1,000 on a scratch-off lottery ticket.
16. I sleepwalked to a neighbor’s house as a kid.
17. I once got locked in a building overnight.
18. I have a collection of over 100 of something unusual.
19. I have been to a psychic who got something eerily right.
20. I have seen a UFO, or at least something I couldn’t explain.

Two Truths and a Lie for Work and Icebreakers

Two Truths and a Lie is one of the easiest icebreakers to run at the start of a meeting or workshop: there’s almost nothing to explain, everyone gets a turn, so quieter colleagues speak as often as louder ones, and inventing a lie pushes people to pick surprising truths, which are the stories people remember. It helps participants discover what they have in common, and it gives the facilitator a quick read on each person’s personality before the workshop that follows. Ten to 15 minutes is enough for a small team. Let people choose between personal and professional statements, and stick to safe topics like hobbies, travel, food and school days.

Work-appropriate ideas

1. My first job was washing dishes in a restaurant kitchen.
2. I once sent a company-wide email that was meant for one person.
3. I applied for this job twice before I got it.
4. I have never had a phone interview.
5. I once fell asleep in a meeting and nobody noticed.
6. I have worked in four completely different industries.
7. I taught myself the main skill I use in my job.
8. I worked night shifts for a full year.
9. My commute used to take two hours each way.
10. I was once interviewed on local TV about my job.
11. I ate the same lunch almost every workday for a year.
12. I still have my very first paycheck stub.
13. I have received an Employee of the Month award.
14. I have given a presentation to the company’s board of directors.
15. I have never missed a work deadline.
16. I once worked as a stunt double.
17. I have switched careers more than three times.
18. I can type 100 words per minute.
19. I have never used a spreadsheet.
20. I was promoted twice last year.
21. I have gotten every job I’ve interviewed for.
22. My first job was at a funeral home.
23. My weirdest job was professional line-stander.
24. I have turned down a job offer from Google.
25. I have been Employee of the Month three times.
26. I once got a promotion on my first day.
27. I started a business when I was 16.
28. I have given a presentation to over 500 people.
29. I once had a job interview in a different language and somehow got the job.
30. I have worked remotely from 12 different countries.
31. I once wore a costume to a meeting on a day that wasn’t a costume day.

Work-safe funny statements

1. I have muted myself to laugh during a very serious meeting.
2. I once joined a video call 30 minutes early and worked in silence with a stranger.
3. I keep a private list of typos I’ve made in work emails.
4. I once printed a hundred pages by accident and quietly hid the evidence.
5. I have rehearsed my introduction for a meeting where I only had to say my name.
6. I have replied “you too” to something that made no sense.
7. I once brought a lunch that got questions from the whole office.
8. I have taken a work call from inside a closet because it was quiet.
9. I have written a strongly worded email and never sent it.
10. I once won an office contest I didn’t know I had entered.

Ideas for remote teams

1. There’s a hidden mess just outside my webcam frame right now.
2. I once took a video call from the grocery store without anyone noticing.
3. I have never worked from a coffee shop.
4. My desk chair is the most expensive thing in my home office.
5. I keep a snack drawer within arm’s reach of my desk.
6. I once gave an entire update before realizing I was on mute.
7. I own a work shirt that has only ever been ironed down to the shoulders.
8. My laptop wallpaper hasn’t changed in five years.

Remote-themed statements work especially well on camera, because the lie can be hiding just outside the frame.

How to run it as an icebreaker

• Give people time. Announce the game before the meeting so everyone can prepare their statements. Two minutes of writing time is usually enough.
• Go first yourself. Your playful, work-safe statements set the tone for everyone else.
• Coach toward small lies. Impressive lies are easy to spot.
• Time-box each turn. Two to three minutes per person, questions included. Pace keeps it fun.
• Split big groups. Above ten people, run breakouts of four to six so nobody sits and waits.
• Keep the themes safe. Stay away from health, money, relationships and anything about people in the room.
• Follow up on the surprises. Spend a minute at the end on the one or two most interesting truths.
• Play again later. Repeating the game with the same team keeps people learning new things about each other, even when they already know each other well.

For more ways to warm up a meeting, see our list of icebreaker games for adults, work and groups.

For a team Get to know each other in one round

One player answers a question about themselves, the others guess on their own phones. Free, in the browser.

Play How Well Do You Know Me

Two Truths and a Lie Suggestions by Topic

Setting a theme for the round makes statements easier to write and harder to guess. Pick one topic and have everyone stick to it.

Travel

1. I have been to more than ten countries.
2. I once missed a flight because I fell asleep at the gate.
3. I have never seen snow in real life.
4. I got food poisoning on the first day of a dream vacation.
5. I once drove across the country with a broken radio.
6. I hiked to the top of a mountain in sandals.
7. I lost my passport the day before an international trip.
8. I have ridden a camel.
9. I once spent the night sleeping in an airport.
10. I’m a nervous flyer, but I’ve flown more than 50 times.
11. I accidentally joined a walking tour in a language I don’t speak.
12. I have swum in three different oceans.
13. I have visited the Eiffel Tower.
14. I have swum with dolphins.
15. My family took a road trip across the country.
16. My family has never traveled outside our home state.
17. I was detained at customs for bringing too much cheese into a country.
18. I once stayed in a hostel that used to be a prison.
19. I have been to all 50 states.
20. I climbed a volcano in Iceland.
21. I once ate guinea pig in Peru.
22. I got lost in Tokyo for six hours without a phone.
23. I haggled for a rug in Morocco.

Food and drink

1. I have never tried sushi.
2. I am a genuinely good baker.
3. I can’t stand chocolate.
4. I once entered a chili-eating contest.
5. I grow my own vegetables.
6. I have eaten insects on purpose.
7. I drink at least five cups of coffee a day.
8. I once set off the smoke alarm making toast.
9. I found out about a food allergy as an adult, in a restaurant.
10. I can eat an entire watermelon in one sitting.
11. I have never tried brownie batter.
12. I have never eaten at McDonald’s.
13. I hate the smell of wine.
14. I was vegan for two years.
15. My Starbucks order is a grande half-caf latte.
16. I used to work in a restaurant.
17. I love pineapple on pizza.
18. I can’t stand the taste of cilantro.
19. I can make pasta from scratch.
20. I have eaten at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
21. I can eat five hamburgers in one go.
22. I have eaten alligator and liked it.
23. I once ate gas station sushi and survived.
24. I have eaten durian and actually enjoyed it.
25. I once won a chili cook-off.
26. I put peanut butter on pickles.
27. I hate Mexican food.
28. I never drink Coke.
29. I can’t eat dairy.
30. I can’t eat gluten.
31. I can’t eat spicy food.
32. I’m allergic to nuts.
33. I’m allergic to seafood.

Hobbies, skills and hidden talents

1. I can play three musical instruments.
2. I have a black belt in a martial art.
3. I can solve a Rubik’s cube in under two minutes.
4. I used to be in a band.
5. I can say the alphabet backward.
6. I once knitted an entire blanket.
7. I can juggle five tennis balls.
8. I have written a novel that nobody has read.
9. I collect something most people would find strange.
10. I can name every member of BTS.
11. I can do a one-handed cartwheel.
12. I have an Etsy shop.
13. I can hold my breath underwater for two minutes.
14. I can do a back handspring.
15. I’ve taken salsa dancing classes.
16. I played in chess tournaments before it was cool.
17. I can fit 19 marshmallows in my mouth at once.
18. I have bowled a perfect 300.
19. I’ve taken flying trapeze lessons.
20. I didn’t learn to ride a bike until I was 20.
21. I can’t swim.
22. I can’t tie my shoelaces.
23. I can curl my tongue.
24. I’m a trained pianist.
25. I love solving jigsaw puzzles.
26. I can do a handstand.
27. I play the drums.
28. I can whistle.
29. I know how to shoot a gun.
30. I can name every member of Queen.
31. I go to yoga class every week.
32. I love camping.
33. I have my own website.
34. I can do a fishtail braid.
35. I know how to knit a scarf.

Childhood and family

1. I was born in a different country from both of my parents.
2. I won a spelling bee in elementary school.
3. I had an imaginary friend until I was eight.
4. I broke my arm falling out of a tree.
5. I was the tallest kid in my class every single year.
6. I once ran away from home and made it to the end of the street.
7. I grew up in a town of fewer than a thousand people.
8. I was my school team’s mascot.
9. My family still calls me by my childhood nickname.
10. I was the first person in my family to go to college.
11. I once cut my sister’s hair.
12. I was in a commercial when I was little.
13. English is my family’s second language.
14. My dad has a pilot’s license.
15. My mom has a twin.
16. My family went to Disney World every year.
17. We moved every two to three years when I was growing up.
18. My dad and I have the same middle name.
19. I grew up on a farm.
20. I’m adopted.
21. I’m related to a famous musician.
22. My grandmother was a professional dancer.
23. My family hosts an annual talent show.
24. I’m a twin.
25. I’m color blind.

Sports and adventure

1. I have run a marathon.
2. I ran the New York City Marathon.
3. I once scored on my own team in a championship game.
4. I have been skydiving twice.
5. I once beat a pro athlete at their own sport, briefly.
6. I have climbed a mountain higher than 13,000 feet.
7. I own a real, if obscure, sports trophy.
8. I ran a 5K in a costume.
9. I have my scuba diving certification.
10. I have been bungee jumping.
11. I go to the gym before work every day.

Achievements and experiences

1. I got into every college I applied to.
2. I got a college scholarship.
3. I got a perfect score on the reading section of the SAT.
4. One of my videos went viral.
5. I skipped a grade in middle school.
6. I have read over 400 books.
7. I dropped out of college and went back to finish a few years later.
8. I’m a self-published author.
9. I have paid off all my student loans.
10. I graduated a semester early.
11. I was my class valedictorian.
12. I was homecoming queen.
13. I was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school.
14. I have fostered ten kittens in the last two years.
15. I have met the President.
16. I have a selfie with Taylor Swift on my phone.
17. I have over 100K followers on Instagram.
18. I have been on TV.
19. I was once stuck in an elevator for two hours.
20. I own my own house.
21. I have two different degrees.
22. I took a selfie with Madonna.

Fears, beliefs and habits

1. I’m afraid of clowns.
2. I’m scared of roller coasters.
3. I’m afraid of public speaking.
4. I’m afraid of tight spaces.
5. I believe in ghosts.
6. I never want to get married.
7. I don’t have a Netflix account.
8. I don’t own a cell phone.
9. I have to take a bubble bath every night.
10. I still sleep with a stuffed animal.
11. I love horror movies.
12. I have never watched a Harry Potter movie.
13. I have five piercings.
14. I had my tonsils taken out.
15. All my pets came from an animal shelter.
16. I’m afraid of tadpoles.
17. I have a fear of heights.
18. I have bad nightmares.
19. I only wear natural deodorant.
20. I don’t have Amazon Prime.
21. I only brush my teeth once a day.
22. I had my appendix removed.
23. I have a tattoo.
24. I’m allergic to dust.

Prompts to build your own

Not sure what to say? Pick one of these and write a true or false version about yourself:

• Where I used to live
• The number of cousins I have
• The number of dogs I had growing up
• What makes me gag
• A drink I have never tried
• Whether I try to eat gluten-free
• The kind of pizza I always order, or one I’ve never tried
• The food I’m allergic to
• Whether I’m left-handed like my mom or my dad

Two Truths and a Lie for Kids and the Classroom

The game works the same way with kids and families: three statements, individual guesses, then the reveal. It’s best for ages 8 and up, since younger kids may struggle to come up with convincing lies or keep a straight face, and a game takes 5 to 30 minutes depending on group size. Along the way kids practice creativity (making up convincing lies and choosing fun truths), observation and critical thinking, confidence speaking in front of a group, and social skills like listening and asking follow-up questions. Keep lies believable rather than impossible, and remind younger players that truths have to be honest but can be surprising. Themed rounds about school, summer camp, food or vacations are easy for kids to fill.

Kid-friendly topics for statements: where you were born, your favorite class at school, sports you play, video or board games you play, places you have visited, your favorite TV show, singer or sports team, your pets and your middle name.

In a group led by mentors or volunteers, have the mentor go first to show how it works, then let the students go before the adults: they’ll be excited to share, and if you run out of time it’s better for a mentor to miss a turn than a student. To vote, go back to the first statement and ask for a show of hands on who thinks it’s the lie, then the second, then the third.

For the first day of middle or high school, teachers can run it as a 10- or 25-minute activity:

1. Model it. Tell the class two truths and a lie about yourself, for example: “I have two children,” “I once won a pie-eating contest” and “When I was ten, I hated science.” Let students guess.
2. Write. Give students about a minute to write their own statements.
3. Form groups of four. Mix students who don’t know each other well, or assign groups at random. Members learn each other’s names first, then play a round (about five to six minutes).
4. Write a group report. Each group picks two truths about its members and makes up one lie: “One member of our group once traveled to Russia, one member…”
5. Present (25-minute version). Groups read their statements, the class guesses the lie, and then the group says which member each truth belongs to.
6. Do one as a class. If there’s time, write two truths and a lie about the class or about the subject, such as “Biology will involve memorizing tons of Latin words.”

To wrap up the 10-minute version, ask the class whether anyone learned something surprising, then move on to the course “truths” like expectations and policies. Afterward, post a few results as a “fact of the day” on the board or class web page for a week or two. Class statements can stay up for the first month of school; then ask which “truths” turned out to be lies and which “lies” were true. A teacher can also slip one false “truth” into the course rules to see who’s paying attention.

Two Truths and a Lie for Adults: Relationship and Spicy Ideas

With close friends, on a date or at an adults-only party, the statements can get much more personal. Start with your strangest true stories, match the tone of the lie to the truths and add specific details.

Relationships and dating

1. I have been in love three times.
2. My longest relationship started as a dare.
3. I have never been cheated on.
4. I once flew across the country to surprise someone I was dating.
5. I have been proposed to and said no.
6. I have never cried at a breakup movie.
7. My first kiss was terrible: we bumped teeth.
8. I wrote a breakup text and sent it to the wrong person.
9. My parents have never set me up on a blind date.
10. I married the first person I ever dated.
11. I have never been a bridesmaid.
12. I once went on 30 first dates in one month.
13. I have never stalked an ex on social media.
14. I have stayed friends with every ex.
15. My partner and I met in the most boring way possible: at a grocery store.
16. I have never said “I love you” first.
17. I once planned an elaborate anniversary surprise that completely backfired.
18. I have had a relationship that was entirely long-distance.
19. I have been someone’s rebound.
20. My worst date involved a restaurant fire.
21. I have never ghosted anyone.
22. I once dated someone for three months before learning their real name.
23. I have written poetry for a partner.
24. I have never snooped through a partner’s phone.
25. I fell in love with my best friend.
26. My most romantic gesture was a scavenger hunt through the city.
27. My partner and I have a couple’s tattoo.
28. I once broke up with someone over text and immediately regretted it.
29. I have never had a fight in public with a partner.
30. I have been told I’m “too intense” by more than one partner.
31. I met someone’s parents on the second date by accident.
32. I have never forgotten an anniversary.

Funny statements for couples

1. I have pretended to be asleep so you would go check out the noise downstairs.
2. I have secretly googled the answer to something you asked me mid-conversation.
3. I rearranged something at home and waited weeks for you to notice.
4. I finished the last of a snack and blamed no one in particular.
5. I once lost an argument on purpose because I was too tired to keep going.
6. I rehearsed a story before telling it to your family.
7. I know your coffee order better than my own.
8. I once pretended to love a gift, and it’s still hidden somewhere in our home.
9. I keep a folder of screenshots of things you’ve said.
10. I have taken a photo of you sleeping purely because your face was ridiculous.
11. I have laughed at something you said hours later, alone, in a different room.
12. I have let you win at something and never admitted it.

Over text and long distance

1. I have typed and deleted a message to you at least three times this week.
2. I have checked the weather in your city for no practical reason.
3. I have fallen asleep with our call still connected.
4. I counted the days until our next visit earlier today.
5. I rehearsed a joke before a video call with you.
6. I watched an episode ahead of you and pretended I hadn’t.

Playing over text makes it easier to keep a straight face, so the lie is harder to catch.

Flirty and spicy (18+)

1. I have skinny-dipped in the ocean.
2. I once made out with someone within an hour of meeting them.
3. I have never had a one-night stand.
4. I have been handcuffed, and not by the police.
5. My most embarrassing hookup story involves a fire escape.
6. I have never sent a dirty text.
7. I once had a crush on a friend’s partner.
8. I once dated two people at the same time, and they both knew.
9. I have never been caught in the act.
10. I have hooked up in a public place.
11. I have been to a nude beach.
12. I have never had anything waxed.
13. I once got a noise complaint from a neighbor because of… activities.
14. I have never had a friends-with-benefits arrangement.
15. I have been told I’m a better kisser than I think I am.
16. I have role-played as someone’s celebrity crush.
17. I have never gone commando to a formal event.
18. I have ghosted someone after a great date because I got nervous.
19. I have never used a dating app.
20. I have written someone a love letter as an adult.
21. I have been someone’s “one that got away.”
22. I have never had an ex try to win me back.
23. I have had a vacation fling.
24. I have lied about my “number.”
25. I have never been to a strip club.
26. I have been asked to model for an art class.
27. Someone once wrote a song about me.
28. I have never slid into someone’s DMs.
29. I have been on a date that lasted over 24 hours.
30. I once called out the wrong name.
31. I have never had a secret relationship.
32. I own something from a sex shop that cost over $100.
33. I have played strip poker and lost spectacularly.
34. I have never received a risqué photo.
35. I have made out with someone at a wedding.
36. My weirdest turn-on involves accents.
37. I have been propositioned by a stranger on a plane.
38. I once stayed in a relationship an extra month just because the sex was good.
39. I have never lied about my age on a date.

These pair well with a round of Never Have I Ever questions: anyone who has also done one of the true statements drinks.

RoomPlay game Keep the confessions going

Never Have I Ever on everyone’s phone, from mild warm-ups to after-midnight rounds.

Play Never Have I Ever

Two Truths and a Lie Party Game Variations

Once the group has the basic game down, change one rule to keep it fresh.

• Scoring version. One point for each lie you spot, one point to the liar for each player fooled. First to 10 wins.
• Consensus version. Instead of guessing individually, the group talks it over and agrees on one answer.
• Theme rounds. Everyone’s statements have to be about one topic: travel, food, work, school, summer camp or childhood memories.
• Team play. Teams write statements together and guess the other team’s lie.
• Rapid fire. Players go one after another with little or no discussion in between.
• Two players. Play head-to-head as a quick warm-up or on a date.
• Mingle version. Everyone writes their three statements on a small card and pins or sticks it near their shoulder. During breaks or meals, people guess each other’s lies as they mingle.
• Show of hands. The facilitator repeats the three options and asks for a show of hands on each one, then asks the player to share a little background behind one of the truths.
• Time limit on questions. Cap the questioning at a set time so turns stay quick.
• Breakout groups. Large groups split into several small circles that play at the same time.
• Drinking game. Guess wrong and you take a sip. Fool everyone and the whole group drinks. If the entire group picks the same wrong statement, everyone takes two drinks. After three rounds, the person who was fooled most finishes their drink.
• Dare version. A wrong guess means doing a dare, and a player who fools everyone gets to assign one. Mix in Truth or Dare and let the worst guesser choose.
• Combo with Never Have I Ever. After each turn, players who have also done either of the true statements drink.

Looking for something to play next? Our How Well Do You Know Me questions and truth or dare questions work with the same crowd.

How to Play Two Truths and a Lie Online or on Zoom

On a video call, the rules stay the same. Players read their statements on camera or type them in the chat, then everyone types or says their guess. To stop people from copying the first answer, have everyone post their guess in the chat at the same moment, and let the host keep score.

For bigger teams, use breakout rooms of four to six people. Remote-themed statements are perfect here, and a written round makes a deadpan delivery easy. When the last turn is over, keep the same room open and move on to another game: try Fibbage, where everyone bluffs with fake answers, or How Well Do You Know Me?

Two Truths and a Lie Questions (FAQ)

1. How do you play two truths and a lie?

   Each player shares three statements about themselves, two true and one false. The group asks follow-up questions, everyone votes on the lie, and then the player reveals it. Scoring is optional.

2. What are good ideas for two truths and a lie?

   Small, specific, slightly surprising statements: first jobs, travel mishaps, hidden talents, food habits and childhood stories.

3. How do you come up with a good lie?

   Keep it plain and close to the truth. A believable, hard-to-check claim fools more people than a grand one, and rehearsing a few details helps you handle questions.

4. Is two truths and a lie appropriate for work?

   Yes, as long as statements stay on safe topics like hobbies, travel, food and school days and avoid health, money, relationships and colleagues.

5. How many people do you need, and how long does it take?

   Three players is the practical minimum and four to twelve is ideal. Plan on two to three minutes per person, so a group of eight takes about 20 minutes.

6. Can you play two truths and a lie with two people?

   Yes. Take turns sharing your three statements and guessing the lie. It’s less dynamic than a group game, but with no crowd to hide in it becomes a read on how well you know each other. Skip scoring and treat the reactions as the reward.