to embellish a story; add dramatic details
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to embellish a story with exaggeration; to add unnecessary dramatic details when recounting something
Often carries a slightly negative connotation of distorting facts or making something more sensational than it actually was. Similar to 'to add fuel to the fire' in terms of intensifying, but specifically about exaggeration in storytelling.
Tā他
jiǎng讲
gù故
shi事
zǒng总
ài爱
tiān添
yóu油
jiā加
cù醋
，
bǎ把
xiǎo小
shì事
shuō说
de得
tiān天
huā花
luàn乱
zhuì坠
。
He always loves to embellish when telling stories, turning trivial matters into spectacular tales.
Shì事
shí实
bèi被
tiān添
yóu油
jiā加
cù醋
de地
chuán传
de得
miàn面
mù目
quán全
fēi非
。
The facts were passed on with so much embellishment that they became completely unrecognizable.
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Nǐ你
bié别
tiān添
yóu油
jiā加
cù醋
le了
，
rú如
shí实
shuō说
dāng当
shí时
de的
qíng情
kuàng况
jiù就
hǎo好
。
Don't add any embellishments; just describe what happened at the time as it actually was.
Zhè这
piān篇
bào报
dào道
duì对
shì事
jiàn件
tiān添
yóu油
jiā加
cù醋
，
yǐn引
qǐ起
le了
hěn很
dà大
zhēng争
yì议
。
This report added sensational details to the incident, causing significant controversy.