out of whole cloth

phrase

US, informal

: in order to trick someone into believing what is not true

He would make up stories out of whole cloth just to stir up trouble.

Examples of out of whole cloth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many drivers stopped with those charges argue that they were manufactured out of whole cloth. — John Archibald | [email protected], al, 9 Feb. 2022

Some of the Conjuring universe movies are entirely made up out of whole cloth but this one is inspired by a real incident, a real court case. — Clark Collis, EW.com, 1 June 2021

Perry Mason, the first season of which is clearly modeled after a superhero origin story, invents an elaborate backstory out of whole cloth for the character, and grounds it, naturally, in trauma. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 25 June 2020

As bars and restaurants in Michigan begin reopening dining rooms, many operators are going beyond the pivot to carryout and reinventing themselves out of whole cloth to adapt to diners' reset whims. — Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 12 June 2020

Rhymes for out of whole cloth

• broadcloth
• cheesecloth
• loincloth
• neckcloth
• oilcloth
• sackcloth
• washcloth
• zeroth
• broth
• doth
• froth
• goth