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economical with the truth
01
telling only part of the truth or being vague in speech
Idiom
InformalThe idiom "economical with the truth" originated from a statement made by Sir Robert Armstrong, a British civil servant, during the 1986 Spycatcher trial. Armstrong used the phrase to describe a situation where someone deliberately avoids telling the complete truth or provides a distorted version of the truth while trying to maintain a semblance of honesty. The idiom is used to imply that the person is selectively withholding or manipulating information to shape a narrative that serves their own interests or agenda.
Example
She suspected her friend was being economical with the truth when he offered a vague explanation for his sudden change in behavior, leaving out important details.
The journalist exposed the CEO's tendency to be economical with the truth by uncovering hidden financial transactions that contradicted the company's public statements.
The witness's testimony was deemed unreliable as he appeared to be economical with the truth, providing vague and evasive answers during cross-examination.
The company's spokesperson was criticized for being economical with the truth by downplaying the severity of the environmental impact caused by their operations.
The politician was accused of being economical with the truth when he conveniently omitted his ties to a controversial organization during his campaign speech.
