Obviously not an upright statement (3)

I believe the answer is:

lie

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'statement' is the definition.
(I know that lie is a type of falsehood)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lie that I've seen before include "Stay hidden" , "Falsity" , "A white one is considered harmless" , "create fiction" , "Perversion of the truth" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.

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