to yarn

Examples

• All

• But for some reason we've been spun this yarn that we need copious amounts of protein to just live.

• The men are smoking, yarning through the evening.

  Fiction book (1996)

• Now you hear up close, and I'll yarn you about the first time we met, eye to eye.

  Cloud Atlas (2012)

• How long did you stay yarning after that?

  Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

• "Were you yarning again, Chrissie?

  Fiction book (1990)

• But they all sighed and said Chrissie was yarning.

  Fiction book (1990)

• "Chrissie," said Benj, "stop yarning."

  Fiction book (1990)

• Rick tells the gripping yarn about the time he tried to kill Negan but didn't.

• The mystery Let's gather around the campfire and I'll spin you a yarn about an old place called Portlock, Alaska.

• She loves to yarn about her adventures while traveling around the world.

Synonyms

T

to tell a story

vsto yarn

84 1.1

To describe things that happened, real or made up, to other people

is narrower, focusing on long often implausible exaggerated narratives

E

to embroider

vsto yarn

3 5.5

To add extra details to a story that often make it less true

is about telling the whole long imaginative tale rather than just adding details

T

to tell a tale

vsto yarn

3 3.5

Say a story about something that happened or show signs of it

is specifically about long imaginative exaggerations rather than neutral accounts

S

to spin a yarn

vsto yarn

• Informal

1 6.8

To tell a long made-up or exaggerated story

is more strongly about long implausible tales rather than brief accounts

S

to spin a story

vsto yarn

1 4.8

Make up and tell a tale, often to entertain or avoid trouble

focuses on long, often implausible narratives rather than brief inventions

F

to fabular

vsto yarn

9.9

To tell or make up creative stories that teach a lesson

is more about long implausible tales rather than moral fables

O

to overtell

vsto yarn

7.1

To make a story sound more exciting or important than it really is

focuses on inventing a long implausible narrative rather than simply exaggerating

P

to pull the long bow

vsto yarn

• Archaic

9.1

To tell a story in a way that makes what happened sound bigger or not true

is used for long imaginative tales rather than single dishonest claims

Idioms

S

to spin a yarn

• Informal

1 6.8

To tell a long made-up or exaggerated story

Phrasal Verbs

Y

to yarn-dye

• Specialized

7.8

To dye fibers before they are spun into thread

Compounds

B

ball of yarn

3 1.0

A round mass of yarn made for knitting or crocheting

S

skein of yarn

1 4.4

A long coil of yarn wound loosely for knitting or crocheting

C

carded yarn

• Specialized

7.2

A thread made from fibers that are brushed so they line up, making it soft but a bit rough

M

melange yarn

• Specialized

7.6

A yarn that combines at least two different fibers or colors

R

rope yarn

• Specialized

7.4

A bundle of strong threads twisted to make rope

S

spun yarn

• Specialized

7.7

A thin, light rope used on ships to tie or secure small things

W

wool-dyed yarn

5.6

Thread made from wool that has been colored for knitting or weaving

W

worsted yarn

• Specialized

6.8

Smooth, strong thread made by tightly twisting long wool fibers for knitting and weaving

Y

yarn-spinning

• Informal

7.7

Tends to tell long, exciting stories about unlikely events

How Imaginative

to yarn

• Informal

1 6.7

to embellish

19 6.1

to tell

∞ 1.0

to recount

83 4.1

Surface Forms

Etymology