make up

(phrasal verb) to create, to invent, to lie

Example Sentences:

The boss was really mad at you because you weren’t at work today. You should make up a good excuse, like you were sick or that someone died.

The young boy made up a story about his trip to Toronto to impress his friends.

If you keep making things up, people are going to stop listening to you. Just tell the truth!

Similar idioms:

1. call one’s dogs off
2. blue in the face
3. make a mountain out of a molehill
4. stop by
5. stop in
6. beat one’s head against the wall
7. be banging one’s head against the wall
8. call off