fib
58
3.7
- noun
- /fɪb/
- Informal
:
mentira piadosa
- "Only a little fib," she told herself.
- tell a fib
- a little fib
- spot the fib
But not cool fibs, not cool.
- But not cool fibs, not cool.
Examples
-
"It's just a preliminary meeting," she told her dad, and felt guilty about the fib.
Fiction book (1994) -
I told a little fib to get you the gig.
-
- I may have told a fib earlier.
-
In Scotland we call that a fib, captain.
-
So, it's a... it's a fib, but it's for his own good, man.
-
But the truth is never as much fun as a good fib.
Fiction book (1991) -
But it wasn't such a bad fib because it was for a good cause.
Fiction book (1999) -
I think you're telling me a little fib.
-
Now, it seems harmless, but little fibs can grow.
-
He admitted that he told a little fib about his age to avoid embarrassment.
Synonyms
∞
7.5
A lie told to avoid trouble
133
5.1
A false story someone tells, often small and harmless
18
3.4
A small untrue statement people tell to avoid hurting someone's feelings
A small harmless lie told to amuse or avoid trouble
A small lie that is not serious
Antonyms
How Serious
Surface Forms
Etymology
Fib comes from playful old words like fibble or fibble-fabble, used for 'silly' little stories. Think of fable, a short story, to remember a fib is a small, often harmless lie told to avoid hurting someone or causing trouble.