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Two Truths and a Lie: How to Play, Plus 80 Example Ideas

Each player says three statements about themselves, two true and one false, and the others try to guess which one is the lie.

Two truths and a lie is a classic icebreaker where each player shares three statements about themselves: two are true and one is made up. Everyone else tries to spot the lie. It works for new classmates, coworkers and family members who think they already know each other, and it needs no equipment at all. Below you will find the rules, a simple scoring system, tips for writing good lies and 80 example statements to inspire your own.

How to play two truths and a lie

  1. Prepare your statements. Each player quietly thinks of three statements about themselves. Two must be true and one must be false. Some groups give everyone a minute and a slip of paper.
  2. Share them. The first player reads all three statements aloud, in any order, without giving anything away.
  3. Ask questions (optional). In many groups, other players can ask one or two follow up questions before voting.
  4. Vote. Everyone guesses which statement is the lie, by pointing, holding up one, two or three fingers, or saying it aloud.
  5. Reveal. The player reveals the lie and, if they like, tells the story behind the true statements.
  6. Pass the turn. Continue around the group until everyone has had a go.

Scoring

The standard game is played just for fun, but adding points makes it more competitive. Groups score it in slightly different ways, and this is the most common method:

What happensPoints
A guesser correctly spots the lie1 point to that guesser
A guesser picks a true statement as the lie1 point to the storyteller

After everyone has had one or two turns, the player with the most points wins. Our game scorekeeper can keep track for a big group.

Random example picker

Stuck for ideas? Tap for a random example statement. Use it as written if it is true or false for you, or tweak it to fit your own life.

80 two truths and a lie examples

These examples are grouped by theme. They are written in the first person so you can borrow the shape of a statement and swap in your own details. Mix themes for a harder round: one travel fact, one talent and one childhood memory are harder to read than three statements about food.

Travel

  1. I have been on a plane more than 20 times.
  2. I once got on the wrong train and ended up in another city.
  3. I have swum in two different oceans.
  4. I have never seen snow in real life.
  5. I once slept in an airport overnight.
  6. I have been to more than five countries.
  7. I have ridden a camel.
  8. I got lost on a hike and had to ask a park ranger for help.
  9. I have never had a passport.
  10. I once took a 30 hour bus ride.

Food

  1. I have never eaten a hot dog.
  2. I can eat a whole pizza by myself.
  3. I once ate a bug by accident.
  4. I have never tried coffee.
  5. I won a pie eating contest.
  6. I once baked a cake for a wedding.
  7. I ate the same lunch every day for a whole school year.
  8. I do not like chocolate.
  9. I have eaten frog legs.
  10. I can cook only three dishes.

Childhood

  1. I broke my arm falling off a swing.
  2. I was born in a different country.
  3. I had an imaginary friend named Gerald.
  4. I won a spelling bee in third grade.
  5. I was afraid of balloons as a kid.
  6. I learned to read when I was three.
  7. I have a twin.
  8. I once fell asleep inside a cupboard during hide and seek.
  9. I lived in four different houses before I turned ten.
  10. I was the shortest kid in my class.

Talents and hobbies

  1. I can juggle three balls.
  2. I can play the piano.
  3. I can solve a puzzle cube in under two minutes.
  4. I know how to knit.
  5. I have run a marathon.
  6. I can say the alphabet backward.
  7. I can wiggle my ears.
  8. I have performed on stage in a play.
  9. I can whistle with my fingers.
  10. I have a black belt in karate.

Animals and pets

  1. I once had a pet snake.
  2. I have been chased by a goose.
  3. I have held a baby kangaroo.
  4. I have never owned a pet.
  5. I have a dog with three legs.
  6. I once rescued a bird from a chimney.
  7. I am scared of butterflies.
  8. I have milked a cow.
  9. I had a goldfish that lived for ten years.
  10. I have swum with dolphins.

School and work

  1. I have never been late to school.
  2. I once got sent home for wearing the wrong shoes.
  3. My first job was at an ice cream shop.
  4. I have had five different jobs.
  5. I once fell asleep during an exam.
  6. I was voted class clown.
  7. I have never taken a sick day from work.
  8. I won a science fair with a volcano model.
  9. I have taught a class of 30 kids.
  10. I once called my boss Mom by accident.

Funny and weird

  1. I have walked straight into a glass door.
  2. I have never ridden a bike.
  3. I once laughed so hard I fell off my chair.
  4. I sleep with socks on every night.
  5. I have been mistaken for someone famous.
  6. I can fall asleep standing up.
  7. I have never watched a scary movie.
  8. I once wore my shirt inside out to an interview.
  9. I talk in my sleep.
  10. I once met someone with my exact first name and birthday.

Holidays and celebrations

  1. I have never had a birthday party.
  2. I once ate a whole gingerbread house.
  3. I dressed up as a pumpkin for Halloween.
  4. I have been to a wedding on a beach.
  5. I once opened a present early and wrapped it up again.
  6. I have never carved a pumpkin.
  7. I once got the same gift from two people on the same day.
  8. I have lit diyas for Diwali.
  9. I have stayed up all night on New Year's Eve.
  10. I have gone caroling in the snow.

How to write a good lie

  • Make the lie believable. A lie that sounds ordinary, such as "I have been to more than five countries", is harder to spot than a wild claim.
  • Make a truth unbelievable. The best rounds include a strange but true fact. People will almost always guess it is the lie.
  • Keep the details similar. If two statements have names and numbers and one is vague, the vague one stands out. Give all three the same level of detail.
  • Bend a true story. Change one detail of something that really happened, such as the city or the age you were, so the lie feels familiar.
  • Keep a straight face. Read all three in the same tone of voice and do not linger on the lie.

Variations

  • Two lies and a truth: flip the rules so players guess the one true statement.
  • Theme rounds: everyone uses one theme, such as holidays or childhood, which works well for office party games.
  • Team version: teams agree on a guess together. Use the random team generator to split the room.
  • Written version: players write their statements on cards, the host reads them out, and the group guesses who wrote each set as well as which one is the lie.

Tips for hosts

  • Give thinking time. Most people need a minute or two to come up with three statements, so announce the game a little before you play.
  • Keep it light. Remind players to choose facts they are happy to share. Nothing should be too personal.
  • Use it to start something bigger. It makes a great opener for team building games or a first day in class.

More games in the same spirit: never have I ever and icebreaker games for groups that are just getting to know each other.

Questions people ask

How do you play two truths and a lie?

Each player says three statements about themselves, two true and one false. The rest of the group guesses which one is the lie, then the player reveals the answer. Play continues until everyone has had a turn.

What are good ideas for two truths and a lie?

Good ideas mix ordinary facts with one surprising truth, such as a hidden talent, an unusual travel story or a funny childhood moment. The 80 examples above cover travel, food, childhood, hobbies, pets, school and work, and holidays. Borrow the shape of a statement and add your own details.

What are some good lies for two truths and a lie?

The best lies sound normal and believable, such as claiming you can play the piano or that your first job was at an ice cream shop. Avoid wild claims that nobody would believe. Changing one detail of a real story is an easy way to write a convincing lie.

What are some funny two truths and a lie examples?

Try statements like "I once fell asleep inside a cupboard during hide and seek" or "I have been chased by a goose." The funny and weird section above has more. Funny truths work best because people assume they must be the lie.

How do you score two truths and a lie?

A common method gives one point to each player who correctly spots the lie and one point to the storyteller for each player they fool. After everyone has had a turn or two, the highest score wins. Many groups skip scoring and play just for the stories.