White Lie Meaning

(idiomatic) A deliberate, untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result.

Example: 2008, Jacqueline Stenson, "The Whole Truth: When is it okay to lie to your kids?," Newsweek, 15 Jul.,
  An occasional little white lie such as Weston's probably won't cause any lasting damage. And at times, telling the truth—particularly the whole truth to a child who's not at an age to handle it—may do more harm than good, they say.