lend color to

lend color to (something)

To embellish or add information or details to an account of something, especially to make it seem more credible or probable. He splashed mud all over his car and clothes to lend color to his story about being in the mountains all weekend. We cannot do anything that will lend color to our opponents' allegations about us.
See also: color, lend
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

lend color to something

Fig. to provide an interesting accompaniment for something. Your clever comments lent a great deal of color to the slide show of your vacation. The excellent master of ceremonies will lend color to an otherwise dry panel discussion.
See also: color, lend
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

lend color to

Embellish, especially to give the appearance of truth. For example, I'm sure he lied about reaching the summit; that detailed account about losing his pack merely lent color to the story . This expression uses color in the sense of "appearance of authenticity." [Late 1700s]
See also: color, lend
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • lend color to (something)
  • lend colour to
  • lend colour to something
  • lend credence to (something)
  • lend support to (something)
  • lend support, weight, credence, etc. to something
  • credence
  • give credence to
  • give credence to (someone or something)
  • give currency (to something)
References in classic literature
Perhaps Elizabeth's sketching, if the fruits were invisible, might lend color to the general effect which she wished to produce of a family, eccentric and limited, perhaps, but not dull.
Night and Day
They are pigments that lend color to everything from blueberries to red wine, and are the reason leaves change color in autumn.
Purple Cauliflower
Lagarde's very diverse city and country life, his career in financial services, harness racing and grape vineyards lend color to his expression.
Lagarde Authors Expose Corrupt Adoption Ring in New Novel "Justice Served ... Babies for Sale"
However, his PI's should not be taken literally as they are really only expressions sans the malice or offense usually associated with expletives that lend color to his rhetorics and reveal the intensity of his reaction to given situations.
Know the President (6)
Might a wheelchair user appropriate a Spice Girl's tutu and wear it over slacks to lend color to her lap and a twinkle to her eye?
At Seventy I Felt I was Beginning