尾(お)ひれをつける

おひれをつける
expression
to exaggerate a story; to embellish; to add embellishments
communication
1. to exaggerate a story; to add embellishments; to dramatize
Idiom literally meaning 'to attach a tail and fins'. Used when a story or rumour gets enlarged each time it's passed along, with details added that were not in the original.
彼(かれ)は話(はなし)に尾(お)ひれをつける。
He embellishes his stories.
噂(うわさ)は尾(お)ひれがついて広(ひろ)まった。
The rumour spread, growing more embellished as it went.
何度(なんど)も人(ひと)づてに聞(き)いているうちに、話(はなし)にすっかり尾(お)ひれがついていた。
By the time the story had passed through several people, it was thoroughly embellished.

Idiom of unclear origin — likely from depicting a creature growing extra tail and fins over time. Negative connotation: implies the added details are exaggerations, not improvements.

Common forms

  • 話(はなし)に尾(お)ひれをつける: to add embellishments to a story (active, transitive)
  • 尾(お)ひれがつく: (the story) gets embellishments added (intransitive — used of the rumour itself)
  • 尾(お)ひれをつけて話(はな)す: to tell with embellishments

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 誇張(こちょう)する (to exaggerate)
Compare: 脚色(きゃくしょく) (to dramatize)
Compare: 話(はなし)を盛(も)る (to exaggerate a story)
general
Added 2026.6.3 13:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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