long-standing falsehood becomes accepted as truth
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
long-repeated falsehood becomes accepted as truth; customary error becomes standard
formalThis idiom criticizes situations where an incorrect practice, belief, or statement has been repeated so often over time that people begin to accept it as correct or standard. It highlights the power of persistence and tradition over truth.
The authenticity of this historical anecdote is doubtful, but after centuries of dissemination, the falsehood has become accepted as truth, and few people question it anymore.
That inefficient procedure has been used in the company for twenty years; everyone takes it for granted—a clear case of a customary error becoming standard.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Some folk sayings are not grammatically standard, but after becoming widespread, the errors have been accepted as correct.
In the history of science, the geocentric view was dominant for a long time, a classic example of a long-standing falsehood being accepted as truth.