I have the solution to the wife question: You look great, but I think you would look even better in... (add your own item, I don't know what she wears!)

UPDATE: FLICK that's funny! Also, in the situation you mentioned the wife often knows that's a loaded question. Seriously my relationship with my wife is built on honesty. Sometimes answers to questions may not be flattering but if I asked my wife how I looked in an outfit I would want her to be honest and vice versa. I would rather talk through a brief moment of hurt than go out into the public looking like a complete dork. Now there may be exceptions to every rule when it comes to talking to a spouse especially when the husband or wife has poor communication skills, but I still believe lying to your mate or anyone for that matter is never the answer. ORIGINAL MESSAGE: There is never a good reason to lie. You may feel you are helping someone at the time by hiding the truth but in the long run it only makes things worse. If you cannot bring yourself to tell someone the truth for whatever reason then things are better left unsaid until you can find a way to tell the truth. Little lies can turn into major trust issues, which will tear a relationship apart. Not only that it is a violation of one of God's commands! "The truth WILL set you FREE."

You can easily answer this question for yourself. Have you ever been asked "Honey, does this make me look fat?"