IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishstretch the truth
Meaning: To be truthful technically, but to distort the truth so that others are led to believe something that is not true.
Example: “He stretched the truth about how much he'd helped.”
Origin: Truth is pictured as something that can be pulled out of shape without quite being broken. The phrase for exaggerating is common from the 19th century.
More English idioms
- strike it rich To become rich or successful suddenly.
- take potluck To accept whatever is available.
- take someone to the cleaners To steal or cheat someone out of all of his or her money.
- take something in stride To accept and adjust to bad fortune or trouble.
- talk a blue streak To talk fast and at length.
- talk through one's hat To speak without authority on some topic; to talk nonsense.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Espèce de patate You dim bulb — a potato being the very picture of inert, unthinking stodginess.
- Quel râleur / quelle râleuse You never stop moaning — everything is a complaint, nothing is ever good enough.
- Peau de vache A mean, difficult, and unpleasant person — tough and unyielding like tanned hide.
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