Stretch it Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈstɹɛtʃ/ /ˈɪt/, /ɪt

STRECH-it or strech-it

UK

stɹˈɛtʃ/ /ˈɪt

strech-IT

Definition

To exaggerate a story, fact, or truth to make it sound more important, dramatic, or impressive than it really is.

Usage & Nuances

Informal expression often used when someone is making something seem bigger or more remarkable than it is, especially stories or achievements. Common phrases: 'stretch the truth', 'don't stretch it'. Not used for literal stretching.

• Spanish: exagerar - alargar (la verdad)
• Portuguese (BR): exagerar - forçar (a verdade)
• Portuguese (PT): exagerar - esticar (a verdade)
• Chinese (Simplified): 夸大其词 - 夸张
• Chinese (Traditional): 誇大其詞 - 誇張
• Hindi: बढ़ा-चढ़ाकर कहना
• Arabic: المبالغة
• Bengali: বাড়িয়ে বলা
• Russian: преувеличивать
• Japanese: 大げさに言う
• Vietnamese: nói quá - phóng đại
• Korean: 과장하다
• Turkish: abartmak
• Urdu: بات کو لمبا کرنا - مبالغہ کرنا
• Indonesian: melebih-lebihkan

Example Sentences

Don't stretch it—just tell me what really happened.

basic

He likes to stretch it when talking about his travels.

basic

Sometimes people stretch it to make their stories funnier.

basic

Come on, don’t stretch it—it wasn’t that amazing.

natural

You’re kind of stretching it calling yourself an expert after one class.

natural

That’s not just stretching the truth—that’s really stretching it!

natural