tall tale

Cultural  

1. An exaggerated, unreliable story: “My uncle claims that he was raised in a drainage ditch, but it's just another of his tall tales.”

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tall tale Idioms  

1. A fanciful or greatly exaggerated story, as in Some youngsters love tall tales about creatures from outer space coming to earth. This idiom uses tall in the sense of “exaggerated.” [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

The preteen’s prank call came after an attorney for Carlee Russell admitted Monday that the Alabama woman spun a tall tale about her own abduction this month — which could also result in criminal charges.

From Washington Times • Jul. 27, 2023

For people who don't recognize Ballard as the most public face of a ridiculous tall tale accusing Wayfair of shipping stolen children in cabinets, the film's content may be extremely traumatizing.

From Salon • Jul. 22, 2023

A tall tale, like Bigfoot or the jackalope?

From Washington Post • Apr. 8, 2023

This isn’t some old-timer’s tall tale: Lori Ford has been walking two miles down a dirt road, with snow past her knees, just to get to work this month.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2023

Just a tall tale from long ago that didn’t have anything to do with me?

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool