Husband Adds To Wife’s Lies Until They’re So Absurd She Finally Stops

When your partner constantly lies to one-up others, how do you make it stop? One husband got tired of watching his wife tell wild, unnecessary stories from inflating their son’s height to giving their daughter achievements she didn’t earn.

So he tried something new: instead of calling her out, he started adding even bigger lies to hers. Suddenly, their “6’4″ son” became 6’10”, and their daughter was both valedictorian and salutatorian.

Now his wife’s embarrassed and calling him an a**hole for mocking her “harmless white lies.” But he insists he just wanted her to stop lying altogether.

A devoted husband finds himself in a tricky spot when his wife’s constant need to outdo others’ stories leads her to bend the truth in increasingly obvious ways

Lying in a relationship rarely remains “harmless.” In this case, the wife’s habit of telling tall tales about their children and then the husband’s decision to up the ante in response have created a dynamic that warrants closer attention.

What began as “just a bit of fun” has become a pattern of communication built on exaggeration, competition, and avoidance of the truth.

According to clinical psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula, habitual deception, even when presented as harmless, often reflects deeper relational and self-esteem issues.

She explains that individuals may lie or embellish stories to “preserve a false sense of self or maintain a narrative of being special,” rather than to inform or connect.

The wife’s exaggerations (a son nearly 7 feet tall, a third testicle, valedictorian status) fit the textbook signs of “dramatic and highly unlikely stories” that researchers cite as markers of compulsive lying.
Newport Institute

The husband’s reaction, escalating the lies to absurdity, can be understood as a coping strategy. Feeling frustrated and maybe powerless, he chose to mirror and magnify the fibbing rather than challenge it directly or risk conflict.

While it may feel cathartic in the moment, this tactic tends to deepen trust issues and sidestep healthy communication. The fact that the wife labelled him an “a__hole” suggests the tactic has triggered defensiveness rather than openness.

Broadening out, this pattern touches on the larger social issue of truth-bias in relationships. Per Dr. Timothy R. Levine’s theory of communication (Truth-Default Theory), humans are wired to believe others by default unless there is strong evidence of deception.

When lying becomes frequent, even “white lies,”it erodes that implicit trust and forces both parties into a more guarded, less authentic stance. Over time, the cost is not just factual accuracy, but emotional intimacy.

From a constructive standpoint, the following suggestions may help:

The wife could engage in self-reflection or couples therapy to explore why embellishing has become comfortable. Professional help can offer insight into patterns of mental health, self-esteem, or relational dynamics.

The husband might shift from “punishing by parody” to open dialogue: calmly express how the lying affects his trust and request clearer communication.

The couple could establish a simple “truth pact” or shared commitment: when one notices an exaggeration, name it gently and ask how it really looked, without judgement. This builds transparency rather than sarcasm.

If the lying persists and both partners do not feel safe or valued, it may be time to evaluate the relationship’s foundations and whether the pattern can actually change.

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

This group agreed that the OP was not at fault, finding humor in the situation while recognizing that the wife’s lying was more than harmless exaggeration

These commenters thought OP’s humorous approach was justified

This group took a more serious tone, noting that the wife’s behavior could harm the children emotionally

These Redditors warned that habitual lying can destroy trust and credibility within a family

This pair fully supported OP’s tactic, agreeing that calling out or amplifying ridiculous lies was an effective and deserved response

Do you think his add-ons were a fair play to spotlight the issue, or might a straight talk have worked better? How would you handle a loved one’s constant need to one-up? Spill your thoughts below, we’re all ears for your own wild tales!