tell a different story

idiom

: to show that something different is true from what someone says is true

He said he wasn't at the scene of the crime, but the fingerprints tell a different story.

Examples of tell a different story in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Federal court filings made public this week tell a different story. —

Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024 While some in Austin blame this problem on federal subsidies tilting the playing field towards renewable energy, the facts tell a different story. —

Ed Hirs, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 Utah's statewide races don't tend to be nail-biters given its Republican lean, but these local contests tell a different story. —

Kim Bojórquez, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024 Not long ago malls were thought to be a dying breed, succumbing to e-commerce, Amazon and the oversaturation of retail square footage — but recent traffic figures at Simon Properties tell a different story. —

David Moin, WWD, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tell a different story

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tell a different story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell%20a%20different%20story. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

Copy Citation