fish story

noun

: an extravagant or incredible story

Examples of fish story in a Sentence

He told a ridiculous fish story about a swarm of giant mosquitoes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bring vise, tools and materials and/or fish stories. Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 15 Apr. 2026 But that fish story wasn’t done. Jon Chapman, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025 Travis Hunter tales in Boulder will be told like fish stories for decades. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2025 Very Jaws, or perhaps Jaws 3, but there will be no awards for this fish story. Chris Pepin-Neff, Scientific American, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fish story

Word History

Etymology

from the traditional exaggeration by fishermen of the size of fish almost caught

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fish story was in 1816

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Cite this Entry

“Fish story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fish%20story. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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