exaggerate

Everyday

To exaggerate is to make something sound bigger, better, worse or more important than it really is. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life people exaggerate to make a story funnier or to get attention («I've told you a million times»); in stories and tall tales exaggeration is for fun; in science and maths you must report results exactly, not exaggerate. Phrases: «don't exaggerate», «exaggerate a story», «greatly exaggerated».

Examples

• Don't exaggerate; it wasn't as big as a house! tree →
• He exaggerated how far he could swim. tree →
• The advert exaggerates how good the toy is. tree →
• I'm not exaggerating; there really were a hundred bees. tree →
• Cartoons exaggerate people's faces to make them funny. tree →
• She exaggerated the story to make her friends laugh. tree →
• Scientists must report what they measured and not exaggerate. tree →
• It would be difficult to exaggerate the old man’s rejoicing now. tree →

Note

Spelling trap: double «g», one «r»: ex-ag-ger-ate. Noun: «exaggeration». Exaggerating is not always lying, but it can mislead. Adverts and posts online often exaggerate; check the real facts.