Two truths and a lie is usually an icebreaker for strangers, but it is even more fun for couples. You think you know everything about your partner, and then they tell you three things and you cannot work out which one is false. It is quick, needs nothing but your imagination and works just as well on a video call as on a sofa. Here are the rules, tips for writing good statements, 45 examples from funny to deep and variations for long-distance couples.
How to play
One person says three statements about themselves: two are true, one is a lie. The other person guesses the lie. If they guess right, they get a point; if not, the storyteller does. Swap roles and play five or ten rounds.
For couples, add one rule: after each round, the storyteller explains the truths. That is where the best stories come out, like the summer you worked in an ice cream van or the time you met a famous footballer at an airport.
- Think of your three statements before your turn.
- Say them in a calm, even voice.
- Tell the story behind the truths afterwards.
How to write good statements
The trick is balance. Make your lie ordinary and believable, and pick truths that sound surprising. If all three are boring, your partner will guess quickly; if all three are wild, the lie stands out.
Specific details make lies convincing: ‘I broke my left wrist falling off a bunk bed at nine’ sounds more real than ‘I once broke a bone’. And mix categories, so your partner cannot rely on one area they know well.
Funny examples
Use these as inspiration. Swap in true things about you and invent one lie.
Fifteen funny statements
Mix two truths with one lie
1. I once got lost in a shopping centre for three hours.
2. I have never eaten a whole pizza by myself.
3. I can name every Pokémon from the first generation.
4. I got stuck in a lift on a first date (not with you).
5. I have a scar from a goose attack.
6. I once dyed my hair green by accident.
7. I fell asleep in a cinema during an action film.
8. I have been on television in the background of a news report.
9. I can touch my nose with my tongue.
10. I once sent a love message to my teacher by mistake.
11. I have never seen a single Star Wars film.
12. I won a hot-dog eating contest as a child.
13. I have walked into a glass door at an airport.
14. I still sleep with a stuffed animal sometimes.
15. I once cooked dinner for 30 people.
Childhood and past examples
Stories from before you met are where most surprises hide.
Fifteen past statements
Great for newer couples
16. I was in a school play as a tree.
17. I had an imaginary friend until I was ten.
18. My first job was at a bakery.
19. I once won a spelling competition.
20. I broke my arm climbing a tree.
21. I lived in another country as a child.
22. I was afraid of the dark until I was a teenager.
23. I was suspended from school for one day.
24. I learned to ride a bike at age twelve.
25. I had a pet rabbit called Captain.
26. I once ran away from home for an afternoon.
27. I was on a junior sports team that won a regional cup.
28. I wrote fan letters to a pop star.
29. I have met my grandmother’s childhood best friend.
30. My first concert was a classical orchestra.
Deeper and relationship examples
Gentle statements about your feelings and your relationship can lead to sweet conversations.
Fifteen deeper statements
For couples who know each other well
31. I knew I liked you before our first date.
32. I almost cancelled our first date.
33. I have kept every note you have given me.
34. I told my best friend about you after one day.
35. I practised what to say before our first call.
36. I have a secret photo of you saved in a folder called ‘work’.
37. I once cried during an advert.
38. I have always wanted to live by the sea.
39. I am afraid of deep water.
40. I wanted to be a pilot as a child.
41. I have never told anyone my real dream job.
42. I once turned down a job abroad.
43. I wrote you a letter I never sent.
44. I googled your name before our first date.
45. I have already picked a name for our future dog.
How to play long distance
On a video call, the game works exactly the same. Watch each other’s faces closely; that is half the fun. By text, send your three statements in one message, wait for a guess, then reveal with a voice note telling the story. Across time zones, play one round a day: send statements in your morning, get the guess in theirs.
Photo version
10 minutes
Send three photos from your camera roll with captions; one caption is false.
Lightning round
5 minutes
Ten rounds, ten seconds to guess each.
Theme nights
15 minutes
Only travel stories, only food, only school.
Keep the game going
Keep a running score across weeks, and make the prize something small: the loser picks the film, sends a voice note singing or makes breakfast on the next visit. When you run out of stories, switch to a similar game such as truth or dare, would you rather or a couples quiz.
Q & A
A few questions you might have
How do you play two truths and a lie as a couple?
One partner says three statements about themselves, two true and one false. The other guesses the lie. Swap turns, keep score and tell the stories behind the truths after each round.
What are good two truths and a lie examples for couples?
Mix funny facts (‘I have a scar from a goose attack’), childhood stories (‘I was in a school play as a tree’) and relationship moments (‘I almost cancelled our first date’).
Can you play two truths and a lie over text?
Yes. Send three statements in one message, wait for a guess, then reveal and explain with a voice note. Across time zones, play one round a day.
How do you make a good lie?
Make it ordinary and specific, and pick truths that sound surprising. A believable lie between two odd truths is the hardest to spot.
Found an idea for the two of you?
Send it to your person and choose something to try together.
