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# shading the truth

phrase (verb phrase; shade, shades, shaded, shading the truth)

«shading the truth» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

(euphemism, everyday) telling a small lie, or leaving out or bending facts so the truth looks better.

### In the lessons

Used to describe a small dishonesty kindly, as if it were not really lying; everyday, all regions, especially US. Politicians are often accused of it.

### Examples

- The salesman was shading the truth about how old the car was.
- I think you're shading the truth about who broke the vase.
- The politician admitted he had shaded the truth.
- "I wasn't lying, I was just shading the truth," said my brother.
- The advert shades the truth about how healthy the cereal is.
- Shading the truth can still hurt people.

### Note

It still means lying a little. Like "stretching the truth" and "economical with the truth". "Shading" here does not mean colouring in.