Liars have short wings.

A lie may seem to help someone escape immediate trouble, but it cannot carry them far. Deception is portrayed as having only a limited reach, though the saying does not promise that it will be uncovered at once.

The saying warns that falsehood tends eventually to fail or reveal its limits in practice. It encourages honesty by stressing that any advantage gained through dishonesty is likely to be short-lived.

Use this proverb to caution someone against relying on a false story, or to comment when deception seems likely to unravel. Its figurative image suits reflective advice or a concise moral observation, without implying that every lie is immediately discovered.