Belgium· informal

carabistouille

Meaning

a made-up story, told for fun

Elsewhere

blague

Explanation

Standard French would call it une blague. Belgium and the far north of France have a word of their own for the harmless fib, usually heard in the plural.

Example

Arrête de raconter des carabistouilles, on ne te croit plus.

Stop telling tall tales, nobody believes you anymore.

Origin

From the Walloon carabistouye, meaning a joyful lie or a bit of nonsense.

Where

BelgiumNord-Pas-de-Calais, Picardie

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