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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.
Examples
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.
