être tiré par les cheveux

to be far-fetched

This expression describes something that feels forced, implausible, or overly contrived, like a far-fetched explanation.

Son excuse était complètement tirée par les cheveux, personne ne l'a crue.

His excuse was completely far-fetched, nobody believed it.

Used since at least the 16th century. Bishop Jacques Amyot wrote of people 'tordant et tirant par les cheveux' (twisting and pulling by the hair) forced interpretations of poetry. By 1636, 'tirer quelque chose par les cheveux' was recorded as meaning 'to force an argument.'