tarradiddles

It began with his deceiving old Aylmer with elaborate excuses and ingeniously detailed lies; but even that may have been, at the beginning, little more than the tall stories and tarradiddles of the child who may say equally he has seen the King of England or the King of the Fairies.

The Complete Father Brown 2003

He stared down at Dumbledore for a moment or two, then, with the appearance of a man pulling himself back together, said, 'We haven't got time to listen to more tarradiddles, I'm afraid, Dumbledore.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Rowling, J. K. 2003

It began with his deceiving old Aylmer with elaborate excuses and ingeniously detailed lies; but even that may have been, at the beginning, little more than the tall stories and tarradiddles of the child who may say equally he has seen the King of England or the King of the Fairies.

The Complete Father Brown 2003

He launched into another of his tarradiddles, this time more successfully.

Tour de Force Brand, Christianna, 1907- 1955

He laughed, with a droll look, and then explained that at home he was never allowed to tell tarradiddles.

The Awakening of Helena Richie Margaret Wade Campbell Deland 1901

I forget now the wonderful escapes from tight corners in the field, the glowing descriptions of the valour of the Carlists, the number of times that Staff Officers had asked for my advice as to the conduct of the war, and the many other extraordinary tarradiddles that I poured, night after night, into the willing ears of my astounded and bewildered fellow cadets.

The Chronicles of a Gay Gordon 1892

Without more words the little girls ran off to the orchard, and nurse's remarks with regard to the difference between lies and tarradiddles were forgotten for the time being.

Girls of the Forest L. T. Meade 1884

"Well, it seems awfully puzzling," said I; "but I hope you don't think I have been indulging in -- well, tarradiddles."

A Crystal Age 1881

There was I telling tarradiddles by the yard to that old oaf Sir

The Prime Minister 1876

There was I telling tarradiddles by the yard to that old oaf, Sir Orlando Drought, when a confidential word from Plantagenet would have had ten times more effect.

The Prime Minister Anthony Trollope 1848