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Glite Dictionary
🤥 A small lie 🤥 To tell a lie
to fib

to fib

4 3.9
To tell a small lie to avoid hurting someone
  • verb
  • /fɪb/
  • Informal
translation icon : mentir
  • I didn't want him to think I'd stopped caring about him, and under the circumstances, it seemed better to fib than to say nothing.

Examples

  • - You mustn't fib to me.

    Little Big Man (1970)

  • So don't you fib to me now.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • But who says you can't fib a little on the timing?

    Blog text (26)

  • Don't fib.

    Miss Meadows (2014)

  • - Nancy, don't fib.

    Sid and Nancy (1986)

  • I had to fib about my age to get the discount.

  • He decided to fib when asked if he liked the gift.

  • Sometimes, it is easier to fib rather than hurt someone's feelings.

Synonyms

to lie
vsto fib
∞ 1.3

To say something that is not true to trick someone

is a minor untrue remark told without intent to cause harm

Antonyms

to tell the truth
814 2.7

Say what really happened without hiding facts or lying

How Serious

to deceive
270 3.9
to fabricate
50 7.3
to lie
∞ 1.3
to fib
  • Informal
4 3.9

Surface Forms

fib infinitive
fibbed past
fibbed past participle
fibbing present participle
fibs third person singular

Etymology

Fib as a verb comes from the same playful root fibble, which meant telling 'small' or 'silly' stories. That's why to fib is to tell a little, usually harmless lie rather than a serious untruth.