Definition

Noun: * The act of telling a small, unimportant lie, or of being deliberately unclear or misleading, often to avoid trouble or to be polite.

Usage

"Fibbing" is used to describe the action of telling a fib. It is a less serious term than "lying," often implying a harmless or minor falsehood. It is commonly used in informal contexts, especially when talking about children or in situations where the truth is avoided to spare someone's feelings.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Stop your fibbing and tell me what really happened to the cookies.
  • A little fibbing about her age seemed harmless to her.
  • He was caught in a bit of fibbing about his homework.

Advanced Usage

• "to be given to fibbing": to have a habit of telling small lies.
  • The child was often given to fibbing about brushing his teeth.

Variants and Related Words

• Fib (n/verb): The small lie itself, or the act of telling one.
  • She told a fib about liking the gift. (noun)
  • He fibbed about his whereabouts. (verb)
• Fibber (n): A person who tells fibs.
  • Don't be such a fibber; we know the truth.

Synonyms

• Telling a white lie: Stating a falsehood considered harmless or polite.
• Prevaricating: Speaking or acting in an evasive way to avoid the truth.
• Being economical with the truth: A euphemism for not telling the whole truth.

Antonyms

• Telling the truth
• Being forthright
• Being honest

Noun

1. a trivial act of lying or being deliberately unclear