spin a tale
idiom
: to make up a story
She spun a tale about her car breaking down to explain why she was late.
Examples of spin a tale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The party’s leaders spin a tale of a Germany under siege by Muslim migrants who threaten its cohesion and culture, abetted by feckless leaders in Berlin.
—
Thorsten Benner, Foreign Affairs, 26 Sep. 2016
Their mother, Cécile de Brunhoff, a pianist and music teacher, began to spin a tale about an orphaned baby elephant who flees the jungle and runs to Paris, which is conveniently located nearby.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Now, conspiracy theorists have jumped on the farm shop video of Kate and William to spin a tale that the British monarchy is engaging in a massive psyop operation to cover up something very sinister about the future queen.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
From arboretums with rare trees to mystical Druid rock formations with names like the Witch's Kitchen and the Wishing Steps, the gardens of Blarney Castle spin a tale as unique as the stone itself.
—Alex Schechter, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2023
The author of numerous books, both fiction and nonfiction, for children and adults, Fleischman knew how to spin a tale.
—Sarah Schutte, National Review, 27 Mar. 2022
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Thorsten Benner, Foreign Affairs, 26 Sep. 2016
Their mother, Cécile de Brunhoff, a pianist and music teacher, began to spin a tale about an orphaned baby elephant who flees the jungle and runs to Paris, which is conveniently located nearby.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Now, conspiracy theorists have jumped on the farm shop video of Kate and William to spin a tale that the British monarchy is engaging in a massive psyop operation to cover up something very sinister about the future queen.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
From arboretums with rare trees to mystical Druid rock formations with names like the Witch's Kitchen and the Wishing Steps, the gardens of Blarney Castle spin a tale as unique as the stone itself.
—Alex Schechter, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2023
The author of numerous books, both fiction and nonfiction, for children and adults, Fleischman knew how to spin a tale.
—Sarah Schutte, National Review, 27 Mar. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Spin a tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spin%20a%20tale. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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