Phrase guide

bend the truth

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To change or leave out certain facts of a story or situation, generally in order to elicit a specific response in the audience.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • In relating the story to Julie, he decided to bend the truth just enough to make her think he had really been in danger.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: խեղաթյուրել իրականությունը (xeġatʻyurel irakanutʻyunə) — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Chinese Mandarin: 歪曲事實 /歪曲事实 (wāiqū shìshí) — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Chinese Mandarin: 歪曲事实 (wāiqū shìshí) — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Chinese Mandarin: 扭曲事實 /扭曲事实 (niǔqū shìshí) — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Chinese Mandarin: 扭曲事实 (niǔqū shìshí) — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Czech: ohýbat pravdu — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Dutch: de waarheid verdraaien — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Finnish: venyttää totuutta — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • French: déformer la vérité — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • German: sich die Wahrheit zurechtbiegen — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Italian: dire una mezza verità — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Korean: 진실을 왜곡하다 (jinsir-eul waegokhada) — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Polish: naginać prawdę — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Portuguese: distorcer a realidade — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Russian: искажа́ть и́стину/пра́вду (iskažátʹ ístinu/právdu) — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Spanish: falsear — change or leave out certain facts of a story
  • Vietnamese: bẻ cong sự thật — change or leave out certain facts of a story