bald-faced
UK[ˈbɔːldfeɪst]US[ˈbɒldfeɪst]
adj
(of a lie) told openly and shamelessly, without any attempt to hide the truth
adj
(of an animal) having a white or pale face or head
Morpheme Breakdown
bald
faced
bald
white, shining, hairless
faced
having a
Etymology
the compound 'bald-faced' originates from the literal description of an animal, such as a horse or hornet, marked by a white or pale face. the term 'bald' in old english carried connotations of whiteness and bareness, which evolved to describe a lack of hair. by the late 17th century, this vivid physical descriptor was applied metaphorically to lies and behavior that were so blatant and unconcealed they were as obvious as a white mark on a face, stripping away any pretense of subtlety or shame.
Analysis
Structure: bald + faced
bald (from old english 'bald', meaning 'white, shining, hairless'); faced (from old english 'fæs', meaning 'face, countenance', plus the suffix '-ed' meaning 'having a')
Examples
he told a bald-faced lie to avoid taking responsibility.
the bald-faced hornet is easily identified by the white markings on its face.
it was a bald-faced attempt to manipulate public opinion.