stretching the truth

Not telling a complete lie with part of it being truthful

I didn't lie about liking you, I was only stretching the truth.

stretching the truth by jace caitlyn November 13, 2007

stretching the truth

Refers to the enormous sideways "expanding" of the "honesty line" (i.e., the "straight 'n' narrow" ink-trace that is drawn when the subject is not lying) that occurs whenever Hap Shaughnessy takes a polygraph test while reciting one of his grandiose tales of phenomenal past accomplishments/escapades.

When his fellow villagers disgustedly waved off his amazing tales of howling adventures and intrigue during his trip as an ambassador, Will Rogers indignantly snorted that he hoped that a building would fall in on him if he'd "padded the facts" at all about his recent political adventures, and a huge brick chimney immediately did collapse and shower him with bricks and powdery mortar-dust (he wasn't hurt -- no worries). Kind of a crude and "extreme" polygraph-device, but it did indeed show that Will had evidently been stretching the truth somewhat.

stretching the truth by QuacksO April 16, 2019