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
But scenes from inside UCLA camp, protesters tell a different story
May 3, 2024
Public universities in California have paid millions to CSC in recent years.
—
Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
People with sickle cell disease tell a different story.
—Eric Boodman, STAT, 21 May 2024
The records unsealed this week tell a different story.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2024
Whistleblowers tell a different story Boeing’s vocal support in its recent memo for employees reporting safety concerns is a stark contrast to the testimonies Boeing whistleblowers shared in a Senate hearing on April 17 about the company’s safety culture.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 May 2024
Advertisement While the rise of Democrats in O.C. has made all the headlines, the facts on the ground tell a different story.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024
However, today’s media landscape tends to tell a different story, as most online and TV personalities boast nearly identical sets of straight, gleaming teeth with no gaps, as many opt to receive veneers.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 25 Mar. 2024
Cops say Perkins pointed a gun outfitted with a flashlight at officers, leading them to shoot and kill him, but neighbors’ security footage and the family’s lawyer tell a different story.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2023
Former President Donald Trump has claimed Black voters are fans of his who view him as a victim of unjust prosecution, but the polls and experts tell a different story.
—Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
People with sickle cell disease tell a different story.
—Eric Boodman, STAT, 21 May 2024
The records unsealed this week tell a different story.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2024
Whistleblowers tell a different story Boeing’s vocal support in its recent memo for employees reporting safety concerns is a stark contrast to the testimonies Boeing whistleblowers shared in a Senate hearing on April 17 about the company’s safety culture.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 May 2024
Advertisement While the rise of Democrats in O.C. has made all the headlines, the facts on the ground tell a different story.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024
However, today’s media landscape tends to tell a different story, as most online and TV personalities boast nearly identical sets of straight, gleaming teeth with no gaps, as many opt to receive veneers.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 25 Mar. 2024
Cops say Perkins pointed a gun outfitted with a flashlight at officers, leading them to shoot and kill him, but neighbors’ security footage and the family’s lawyer tell a different story.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2023
Former President Donald Trump has claimed Black voters are fans of his who view him as a victim of unjust prosecution, but the polls and experts tell a different story.
—Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tell a different story.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tell a different story
Cite this Entry
“Tell a different story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell%20a%20different%20story. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share