that ain't the way I heard it

that ain't the way I heard it

A very informal way of saying that one heard a different story or explanation from the one just told. ("That ain't" is a colloquial way of saying "that isn't.") A: "Bob said he's retiring to spend more time with his family." B: "That ain't the way I heard it—word on the street is that he was caught embezzling company money." A: "She's just a friend, Janet! I just met her for a couple drinks and then went home!" B: "Yeah, that ain't the way I heard it, you no-good cheating bastard!"
See also: hear, that, way
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

That ain't the way I heard it.

Rur. That is not the way I heard the story told. (The highly informal word ain't is built into the expression.) John: It seemed like a real riot, then Sally called the police and things calmed down. Sue: That ain't the way I heard it. John: What? Sue: Somebody said the neighbors called the police. Fred: Four of us went fishing and were staying in this cabin. These women stopped and said they were having car trouble. What could we do? Sally: That ain't the way I heard it.
See also: hear, that, way
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • cooking for one
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office
  • give (one) (one's) head
  • give head
  • give somebody their head
  • give someone their head
  • 1FTR
  • as one door closes, another (one) opens