spin (one) a tale

spin (one) a tale

To tell a lie or fictionalized version of the truth in order to convince someone of something or to avoid the consequences of something. Don't you dare spin me a tale about being at the library. I want to know exactly where you were tonight. I suspect he's just spinning a tale about where all that money came from.See also: spin, tale

spin (somebody) a ˈyarn/ˈtale

tell somebody a story, usually a long one, which is often not true: She came an hour late and spun him a yarn about her car breaking down.Sailors used to spin yarns (= long threads) to make ropes. They were also famous for telling unlikely stories of their adventures, which is perhaps the origin of the idiom.See also: spin, tale, yarn