Also: fish tale
A Fish Story Meaning
A fish story is a boastful and improbable tale; a tall tale; a big grandiose story unlikely to be true.
A fish story can be about anything but it is often about actual fish. The idiom is often misstated as ‘fishing story.’
Sentence Examples
“The people came to his bar not only for the drinks but for his fish stories. He would keep them enthralled for hours with his crazy adventures.”
“I once knew a guy who claimed to have dated Cyndi Lauper. Talk about a fish story.”
“Well, Admiral, that was the briefest dinner I’ve ever had in my life, and certainly the biggest cockamamie fish story I’ve ever heard.” — Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
“Good night, Mr. Chandler. Don’t keep Father up too late with your fish stories.” — Libeled Lady (1936)
“Joe couldn’t make it. He’s still fly-fishing in some dark, secret location.” “Well, as long as he brings back a fish story, huh?” — Wild Palms (1993)
“Now come on. Uncle Carl’s going to tell one of his famous fish stories.” “I’d rather just read.” “Suit yourself.” — Star Trek: Voyager: Lineage (2001)
Origin
Used since the early 1800s, this idiom alludes to the tendency of fishermen to exaggerate the size of the fish they catch, something that happens so often that this tendency led to the ‘fish story’ being passed into general figurative use.
