Two Truths and a Lie

Purpose

Two Truths and a Lie is a classic icebreaker that sparks curiosity, laughter, and personal connection. It helps participants learn surprising facts about each other in a playful, low-pressure format. The activity is ideal for the opening phase of workshops, team-building events, or any session where participants need to get comfortable with one another quickly.

At a glance

• Group size: 4–30
• Duration: 10 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Facilitation style: Facilitator-guided rounds
• Setting: In-person or virtual

How to run

1. Explain the rules: each person will share three statements about themselves — two true and one false. The group will try to guess which statement is the lie.
2. Give participants 1–2 minutes to think of their three statements. Encourage creative truths and believable lies.
3. The first person shares their three statements.
4. The group discusses briefly, then votes on which statement they think is the lie.
5. The speaker reveals the answer.
6. Continue around the group until everyone has had a turn (or until time runs out in larger groups).

Materials needed

• None (optionally sticky notes for participants to jot down their statements)

Pitfalls & common mistakes

• Too-obvious lies: Encourage participants to make the lie believable and the truths surprising.
• Skipping the voting step: The group discussion and vote is where the fun happens — do not rush past it.
• Taking too long per person: In groups larger than 10, limit discussion time to keep energy high.
• Pressure on shy participants: Let people volunteer rather than forcing a strict order.

Inclusion & accessibility

• Works well for multilingual groups since statements can be simple.
• No physical movement required — accessible for all mobility levels.
• Be mindful that some participants may not want to share personal details. Frame it as light and fun, and allow people to keep statements surface-level.
• Virtual-friendly: participants can type their statements in the chat if speaking feels uncomfortable.

Variations

• Two Truths and a Dream: Replace the lie with something you wish were true, shifting the tone toward aspirations.
• Written version: Everyone writes their statements on cards; the facilitator reads them aloud and the group guesses both the author and the lie.
• Team tournament: Split into teams and award points for correctly identifying lies.

When NOT to use this

• When participants already know each other very well — the game loses its surprise factor.
• In very large groups (50+) where individual turns would take too long.
• When the group dynamic is tense or there are trust issues — the word "lie" can feel uncomfortable.

Source & further reading

• A widely known party and classroom icebreaker with no single credited inventor.
• Adapted for facilitation contexts by countless workshop designers worldwide.