What does “not gonna lie” mean? Am I expecting you to lie?

It is what it is.

Saying “not gonna lie” means that person probably shared more information than they should have. Truthfully most people don’t disclose all information they have about a person.

Like if your friend told you “not gonna lie, your mom is pretty hot”.

that’s more information than you’d like to know but he ain’t lying.

To be honest, I hate expressions like this.

I agree; it’s almost as bad as people using “everyone” imprecisely.

It's my favorite phrase. Let me live my life!

When I hear someone say “I’m not gonna lie,” they’re usually lying.

When someone says “to be honest,” they’re usually not being honest.

Just say what you’re going to fvcking say and don’t preface it.

Another great one (that I use at work, just to mess with people) is "I shouldn't be telling you this, but . . . ."

Back in grade school, you should have had a lesson on idioms.

here on the letsrun boards we have daily lessons on idiots.

It’s a figure of speech.

What else you want to know?

Me too. That expression is used by a certain group of people. Same ones that will say "not for nothing". I will leave it at that.

I like to preface things with "not gonna lie" right before I say something really offensive. The fact that you're being honest usually softens the blow (maybe, idk I never ask or care).

When someone says that the first thing you might do is suspect they ARE lying.

Tell me about it. Same old same old. Heard it once, I heard it a thousand times. Makes no sense. That’s what I’m talking about. You got that right. I see what you’re saying. To be honest with you. You feelin’ me?

I may or may not be qualified to answer: I'm a teacher who obviously isn't in the demographic for slang but naturally hears it used all the time by students (and has heard slangy words and phrases come and go over the past several decades.) "Not gonna lie" almost always precedes a statement that is purely an opinion, not something on which there is a single truth and every other statement upon it would be a lie. I suspect the phrase is used to add a (false) whiff of hard truth to what is, ultimately, a statement of preference or feeling on which anyone can agree or disagree. Same thing with "to be honest" or "tbh" but the kids usually put that at the end of the opinion-statement rather than the beginning.

It just means they woke up with an unusually itchy anus today.

Or they are about to say something unexpected, candid, or bold, which might cause discomfort, controversy, or even a fight.

"Honey, does this dress make me look fat?"

"Not gonna lie, it really isn't the most flattering and I would recommend you wear something else."

______

"What do you think of the new marketing plan? We put countless hours into it and it rolls out next week."

"Not gonna lie, I think it lacks creative punch, is somewhat cliché, and won't resonate with the target market. Thanks for asking. Wish you had asked me a few months ago."

It gives you a green light to say what you want. Same as saying "God love him" at the end of a sentence. I'm not going to lie, Joe Biden is demented. Joe Biden is demented, God love him.

Classic projection. You are a liar so you presume everyone else is a liar too.

"I'm not gonna lie" is just habitual verbiage that some people use regardless of the veracity. Reading something into it says more about you than them. They could just as easily said, "you can't make this sh\it up!".