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to bend the truth
01
to not be completely truthful about something by changing or omitting some facts
What is the origin of the idiom "bend the truth" and when to use it?
The idiom "bend the truth" is thought to have originated in the early 17th century. It was first used in print in 1606, in a play by William Shakespeare. In the play, a character says, "I will bend the truth a little out of fashion, to make it more agreeable to your hearing." Over time, this expression came to be used more generally to describe any act of deception or lying. In other words, it is often used to describe someone who is trying to make something sound better than it really is.
Example
He always bends the truth so he never gets in any trouble.
The student bent the truth about her grade on the test in order to avoid getting in trouble with her parents.
I know he has stretched the truth about how much he had helped in the project.
The marketing team decided to stretch the truth in their advertisement, making exaggerated claims
The politician bent the truth about his qualifications in order to get elected.