Sometimes you might be called upon for an opinion of a friend who is extremely lazy. You don't want to lie --- but you also don't want to risk losing even a lazy friend.
Try this line: ``In my opinion,'' you say as sincerely as you can manage, ``you will be very fortunate to get this person to work for you.''
This gem of double meaning is the creation of Robert Thornton, a professor of economics at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.
Thornton was frustrated about an occupational hazard for teachers, having to write letters of recommendation for people with dubious qualifications, so he put together an arsenal of statements that can be read two ways.
He calls his collection the Lexicon of Inconspicuously Ambiguous Recommendations. Or ``LIAR'', for short.
[LIAR] may be used to offer a negative opinion of the personal qualities, work habits or motivation of the candidate while allowing the candidate to believe that it is high praise.''
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