economical with the truth
- economical with the truth
lying
Famously said by the Secretary of the British Cabinet, Sir Robert Armstrong, in a legal action ill-advisedly brought by Mrs Thatcher in Australia to try to prevent the publication of confidential, inaccurate, and largely inconsequential allegations about the secret service, as a result of which she enriched the author, his lawyer, and the language. Also as economical with the actualité:
Mr Clark admitted he had been economical with the actualité (Sunday Telegraph, 20 March 1994 — a British minister had become involved in another ill-advised court case)
How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms.
R. W. Holder.
2014.
Look at other dictionaries:
economical with the truth — (UK) If someone, especially a politician, is economical with the truth, they leave out information in order to create a false picture of a situation, without actually lying … The small dictionary of idiomes
economical with the truth — Causing deception or misunderstanding by revealing only a selection of available information • • • Main Entry: ↑economy * * * used euphemistically to describe a person or statement that lies or deliberately withholds information * * * economical… … Useful english dictionary
Economical with the truth — The phrase economical with the truth came into popular usage after if was used by the British then Cabinet Secretary Robert Armstrong during the Spycatcher trial in 1986. It derives from Edmund Burke: Falsehood and delusion are allowed in no case … Wikipedia
economical with the truth — ► economical with the truth euphemistic lying or deliberately withholding information. Main Entry: ↑economical … English terms dictionary
economical with the truth — To say that a person is economical with the truth means that, without actually lying, they omit important facts or give incomplete information. The politician was accused of being economical with the truth … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
economical with the truth — adjective not telling the whole truth, especially in order to present a false image of a situation; untruthful; lying. Often used with sarcasm or satire I would be being economical with the truth if I were to tell you that I was enjoying myself … Wiktionary
Economical with the truth — (UK) If someone, especially a politician, is economical with the truth, they leave out information in order to create a false picture of a situation, without actually lying … Dictionary of English idioms
be economical with the truth — informal phrase to say things that are not true, or to not tell everything that you know Thesaurus: to tell lies and deceive peoplesynonym Main entry: economical … Useful english dictionary
be economical with the truth — humorous to not be completely honest about something. He was economical with the truth he gave her a censored account of what was discussed … New idioms dictionary
economical with the truth — euphemistic lying or deliberately withholding information. → economical … English new terms dictionary
