Economical with the truth
- 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 whatever: but, as in the exercise of all the virtues, there is an economy of truth. It is a sort of temperance, by which a man speaks truth with measure that he may speak it the longer.
Generally, it is considered as a euphemism for lying.
ee also
* Terminological inexactitude
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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 — ► 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
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… … How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms
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
