PhrasesHub

Tall story

    Definitions

      • exaggerated or unbelievable story
        To describe a story that is embellished or unbelievable, often told for entertainment or to impress others

      • lie or fabrication
        To imply that someone is not telling the truth or is making up a story

    Examples of Tall story

    • My friend told me an incredible tall story about winning the lottery and quitting his job to travel the world. I couldn't believe it, but he seemed sincere.

      A "tall story" is a fabricated, exaggerated, or implausible account of an event or circumstance. In this example, the friend's story about winning the lottery and traveling the world is highly unlikely and improbable, making it a tall story.

    • During our job interview, the HR manager asked us to share an interesting feature about ourselves. I didn't want to sound boring, so I came up with a tall story about being fluent in six languages. The truth is, I can only speak two fluently, but I hoped my exaggeration would impress them.

      In this example, the use of a tall story helps the speaker present themselves in a favorable light, but it may also lead to disappointment or disbelief if it is discovered to be false.

    • My cousin asked me to help her move into her new house, and she promised to pay me back with a huge sum of money. She later revealed that she had lost her job and was unable to pay me. I couldn't help but laugh because she had told me a tall story about inheriting a vast fortune from her uncle.

      A tall story can be used to deceive or mislead others, as seen in this example. In this scenario, the cousin's tall story hid her financial predicament from her cousin, potentially leading to difficulty repaying her.

    • The salesperson gave me a tall story about the features of the product I was interested in, making it sound like an indispensable necessity. After buying it, I realized that it had very few benefits and many drawbacks. I felt misled and cheated by his tall story.

      Here, the speaker falls victim to the salesperson's tall story, which was meant to persuade and convince the listener. In reality, the product was far less impressive than the salesperson made it out to be. This example demonstrates the potential negative consequences of being misled by tall stories.

    • "I once saved a baby from a burning building using only my bare hands and a roller skate," said Tom, but everyone knew it was a tall story.

      This is an example of the idiom being used as a figurative expression to describe a blatant lie. Just as a tall story is an exaggerated account of events, Tom's tale was clearly not true, as anyone could see.

    • The boss's explanation for why the project was delayed was a tall story, as it involved a team of friendly woodland creatures who had stolen all the office equipment and hidden it deep in the forest.

      This usage of the idiom highlights its versatility, as it can be applied to any type of falsehood, from minor white lies to outlandish, far-fetched myths. In this case, the boss's excuse was so implausible that it was immediately recognized as a tall tale.

    • Dave's claim that he had played a private concert for the Pope was a classic example of telling a tall story.

      This example demonstrates the idiom's use as a way to critique someone's false boasting or exaggerated claims. In this case, Dave's fiction was so extreme that it was obviously untrue.

    • The detective's investigation into the burglary led him to believe that the thief had a humanoid body with tentacles instead of limbs, but the witness insisted that it was just a tall story.

      Here, the idiom is used to describe a fictional or improbable tale, as the detective's disbelief in the witness's account suggests. While the story may be imaginative or fantastical, it is still recognized as a tall tale.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "tall story" is used to describe a story that is exaggerated, unbelievable, or possibly a lie. It can be used to entertain or impress others, but it can also imply that someone is being dishonest. The intention behind using this idiom is to convey skepticism or disbelief towards the story being told.

    Origin of "Tall story"

    The origin of the idiom "tall story" is believed to date back to the 17th century. The word "tall" in this context does not refer to height, but rather to something that is extravagant or exaggerated. The term "tall tale" was used in American folklore to describe exaggerated stories, and "tall story" is a variation of this phrase. It is likely that the idiom evolved from this usage to become a common expression in the English language. The idiom may have originated from the idea of stretching the truth to make a story more impressive, similar to stretching one's height. Overall, the idiom "tall story" has a long history and has evolved to become a widely used expression in English.