tell porkies

tell porkies

To tell a lie or say something that is not entirely true. Primarily heard in UK. The government's clearly been telling porkies about who these tax cuts are going to benefit! I admit I've told porkies on more than one job application.
See also: porky, tell
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tell ˈporkies

(British English, informal, humorous) (usually used in progressive tenses) say something that is not true: Can this be true, or is somebody telling porkies?In rhyming slang, porky-pies means ‘lies’.
See also: porky, tell
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • doggo
  • a straw will show which way the wind blows
  • couldn't lie straight in bed
  • give the lie to
  • give the lie to (something)
  • give the lie to something
  • give the lie to, to
  • a lie has no legs
  • best pleased
  • don't give me that line
References in periodicals archive
Being lenient with the truth over dates of employment tops the list of things candidates tell porkies over - almost a third.
WE'RE A NATION OF WHITE LIARS; DAILY Mirror JOBS
COLIN BELL'S transfer into the big time came about because Malcolm Allison used to tell porkies about the skinny kid's ability.
How Big Mal put the scouts off
"We can't say definitely but Bob always claimed he did draw for us, and why would he tell porkies about something so easily disproved?" Monkhouse, who was also an actor and game show host, died aged 75 in 2003 after a battle with prostate cancer.
Was Bob a Beano comic?
Doctors wouldn't tell porkies or exaggerate anything that serious, would they?
Smoking ban is just so carazy; Bin motors, not smokes
But how sad that ageism is so rife in our society that women barely out of their 20s now feel the need to tell porkies about their birthdays.
YOU have to feel sorry [...]
ALMOST five years ago, I published a website article entitled "Does the British Wind Energy Association tell porkies?"
Letter: We'll need twice as many wind turbines; VOICE OF THE NORTH
Two, free prescriptions (long pause followed by) OK, so I'm 248 achievements light but we all tell porkies sometimes.'
ViewpointsRhodri, politician... and Marxist comedian
Apparently a lot of churchwardens and vicars tell porkies about their churches being locked.
Images of England
Perhaps desperation drove the PM to tell porkies. He'd handed his notice in to the Queen and polls suggest the country might not re-employ him.
Cameron's poor start; VOICE OF THE
I should have put it in a Post Office savings scheme - they don't tell porkies.
Letter: Yourview - Cashing in
We asked you if it was OK for Sean Adams to lie, and when would you tell porkies?
DAILY RECORD DEBATE; Is it OK to tell lies if it's for a good cause?
Half of drivers polled by an insurance Setanta blamed the recession for forcing them to tell porkies in a bid to save money.
Honesty best policy for some
Scientists have found that more blood is pumped into our nasal tissues when we tell porkies, causing them to swell.
Dr nose if you're telling a lot of lies
Annie, 53, of Shettleston, Glasgow, was even made to swear on the Countdown dictionary that she would never tell porkies again.
Countdown Con; EXCLUSIVE: The game's up for Annie after her cheeky quiz swizz
ANYONE who's planning to tell porkies about what they really got up to after the office Christmas party, should take note tonight of Ruby's cunning plan for convincing her dad she's at home watching TV when in fact she's out losing her virginity to Juley Smith.
We Love Telly: SOAPWATCH: EASTENDERS BBC1, 8pm