PhrasesHub

Economical with the truth

    Definitions

      • Being dishonest or deceptive
        To describe someone who is not fully truthful or is withholding important information in order to deceive or manipulate others.

      • Being frugal or conservative with the truth
        To describe someone who is careful or cautious when speaking, often choosing their words carefully to avoid revealing too much information or making false statements.

    Examples of Economical with the truth

    • During the job interview, the applicant seemed to be economical with the truth about his work experience.

      This idiom means that the applicant was not completely forthcoming about his work history. Instead, he may have given incomplete, vague, or misleading information.

    • The politician's statements during the debate were economical with the truth.

      This could mean that the politician's statements contained some untruths, exaggerations, or omissions. It suggests that the speaker is not telling the whole truth, and may be misleading or dishonest.

    • The witness's testimony was economical with the truth, and the judge called her out on it.

      This idiom is often used in legal contexts, and refers to a witness who gives incomplete, misleading, or false information during a trial or investigation. It suggests that the witness is not being entirely honest or forthcoming.

    • The company's financial reports were economical with the truth, and the shareholders were shocked by the revelations.

      This idiom can be applied to financial statements, and suggests that the company may have underreported its profits, overstated its assets, or hidden its debts or liabilities. It implies that the financial reports were not entirely accurate or reliable.

    • The politician's statements during the press conference were highly economical with the truth.

      This idiom is used to describe someone who deliberately omits or exaggerates certain facts in order to mislead others. In this case, the politician's statements were not entirely truthful, as they left out important details or presented false information to the audience.

    • The sales representative's claim that the product had a 95% customer satisfaction rate was highly economical with the truth.

      This example highlights how companies sometimes exaggerate the benefits of their products or services to appeal to customers. In this case, the sales representative's statement about the product's customer satisfaction rate was not entirely accurate, as there may be exceptions or extreme cases that were not included in the calculations.

    • The witness's account of the events during the robbery was highly economical with the truth.

      This example shows how sometimes witnesses may withhold certain details or exaggerate others in their testimony. In this case, the witness's account of the events during the robbery may have left out important information, or presented false details, in order to either protect themselves or to appeal to the authorities.

    • The chef's menu descriptions were highly economical with the truth.

      This example demonstrates how sometimes restaurants may exaggerate the quality or ingredients of their dishes in order to attract customers. In this case, the chef's menu descriptions may have overstated the actual contents of the dishes, in order to make them appear more appealing to potential diners.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "economical with the truth" is most commonly used to describe someone who is being dishonest or deceptive. It can also be used to describe someone who is being careful or cautious with their words, often in an attempt to avoid revealing too much information or making false statements.

    This idiom is often used in a negative context, as being "economical with the truth" implies that the person is intentionally withholding or manipulating information for their own gain. It can also be used as a criticism of someone's lack of transparency or honesty.

    Origin of "Economical with the truth"

    The origin of this idiom is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in the early 20th century. The phrase was popularized by British politician Edmund Burke in the 18th century, who famously stated, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." However, the specific phrase "economical with the truth" did not become popular until the 1960s.

    It is thought that the idiom may have been inspired by economic terms, as the word "economical" implies being efficient or conservative with resources. In this case, the "truth" is seen as a valuable resource that should not be wasted or used frivolously. This connection between economics and truth may have contributed to the development and popularity of this idiom.