told vs. said

Why do Americans say "I told a lie" rather than "I said a lie?"

What's the difference between told and said?

To be honest, i have never heard people say "say a lie". It's always "tell a lie", it's considered a set-phrase, like "tell the truth".
I may be wrong though.;-)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MashUK

To be honest, i have never heard people say "say a lie". It's always "tell a lie", it's considered a set-phrase, like "tell the truth".
I may be wrong though.;-)

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You are not.:up:


Here are a few more fixed phrases with tell. We cannot use say with these phrases:
tell (someone) a story
tell the future (= to know what the future will bring)
tell the time (= know how to read a clock)