economical with the truth
/ˌiːkəˌnɒmɪkl̩ wɪð ðə ˈtruːθ/INFORMAL · C1
Meaning
not telling all the facts, or not being honest
Examples
- 1The estate agent was a little economical with the truth about the noisy neighbours.
- 2When Mum asked where I'd been, I was economical with the truth.
- 3The holiday brochure was economical with the truth: the promised sea view was a car park.
- 4Tom was economical with the truth when he said the essay was nearly finished; he hadn't started.
- 5Were you being economical with the truth when you told the teacher you were ill?
Grammar
It usually follows be, often with a little or a bit. It is a humorous, polite way of saying someone lied.
More idioms about honesty and secrets
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →spill the beansto tell people information that was meant to stay privatecome cleanto finally admit the truth about something you kept hiddenkeep something under your hatto not tell anyone else about somethinga skeleton in the cupboardan embarrassing fact from someone's past that they hidebehind closed doorsin private, where the public cannot see or hearmy lips are sealedsaid when you promise not to tell anyone
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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