Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
tell-it-to-the-marines
idiom
/tɛl ɪt tə ðə mərˈiːnz/
Definition
A phrase used to express skepticism or disbelief, indicating that what is being said is not credible or should not be taken seriously.
Examples
- When he claimed he’d run a marathon without training, I thought, ‘Oh, please, tell it to the marines.’
- She always exaggerates her stories; I’m not buying it. Just tell it to the marines!
Meaning
This expression suggests that the speaker believes the statement is so unbelievable that only someone gullible, like a marine, would accept it.
Synonyms
- It’s a tall tale
- Don’t give me that
- Spare me the details
