FIB (fibbed, fibbing)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: fibbed    , fibbing   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fib mean? 

• FIB (noun)
  The noun FIB has 1 sense:

1. a trivial lie

  Familiarity information: FIB used as a noun is very rare.

• FIB (verb)
  The verb FIB has 1 sense:

1. tell a relatively insignificant lie

  Familiarity information: FIB used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FIB (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A trivial lie

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

fib; story; tale; taradiddle; tarradiddle

Context example:

how can I stop my child from telling stories?

Hypernyms ("fib" is a kind of...):

lie; prevarication (a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fib"):

cock-and-bull story; fairy story; fairy tale; fairytale; song and dance (an interesting but highly implausible story; often told as an excuse)

Derivation:

fib (tell a relatively insignificant lie)

• FIB (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they fib    ... he / she / it fibs   
Past simple: fibbed   
Past participle: fibbed   
-ing form: fibbing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Tell a relatively insignificant lie

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

Fibbing is not acceptable, even if you don't call it lying

Hypernyms (to "fib" is one way to...):

lie (tell an untruth; pretend with intent to deceive)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

fib (a trivial lie)

fibber (someone who tells lies)

fibbing (a trivial act of lying or being deliberately unclear)

 Context examples 

"Dear me!" said the old lady, putting up her glass for another observation of Meg, who tried to look as if she had not heard and been rather shocked at Mrs. Moffat's fibs.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"That's a fib!" cried Jo, taking her by the shoulders, and looking fierce enough to frighten a much braver child than Amy.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She told that fib about her momma, as if she did know, and colored up when the flowers came quite prettily.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Fib number one.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Now, if Jo had not been new to this sort of thing she would have said she wasn't crying, had a cold in her head, or told any other feminine fib proper to the occasion.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She tried to forget it, but could not, and kept repeating to herself, Mrs. M. has made her plans, that fib about her mamma, and dowdy tarlaton, till she was ready to cry and rush home to tell her troubles and ask for advice.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)