fish story

SEE SYNONYMS FOR fish story ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Informal.

an exaggerated or incredible story: It was just another one of his fish stories.

Origin of fish story

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20

Words nearby fish story

fish protein concentrate, fish sauce, fish skin, fish slice, fish stick, fish story, fish tackle, fish tail, fish warden, fish-and-chip shop, fish-bellied

Words related to fish story

bunk, embellishment, exaggeration, lie, overstatement, yarn

Example sentences from the Web for fish story

  • Pleasant stories were related, and one fish-story was allowed, to give spice to the occasion.

    The Bay State Monthly, Volume 3, No. 3 |Various

  • This he would have me believe was the foundation of this fish-story.

    Cape Cod |Henry D. Thoreau

  • When we tell about it at the Hall some of the fellows will be sure to say it's a fish-story.

    Dave Porter in the Far North |Edward Stratemeyer

  • Because this fish-story has so little of fish in it does not prove that a man cannot fish for other game than fish.

    Tales of Fishes |Zane Grey

Idioms and Phrases with fish story

fish story

An improbable, boastful tale, as in He came up with some fish story about his winnings at the track. This expression alludes to the tendency of fishermen to exaggerate the size of their catch. [Early 1800s]