economical with the truth

[chris musell]

who said this

[Hippy]

A pompous self opinionated womanising Tory grandee called Alan Clarke (it's ok he's dead - can't be done for libel) told some lies and later described this in court as being, "Economical with the verite". He couldn't even bring himself to utter the English word "Truth"! He was a deeply dreadful politician and a quirky publicity seeking historian whose most famous utterance typified his life and achievements.

[jenstar]

I always thought it came from the Oliver North trial.

[Quizmonster]

The first 'modern' version of this saying - the 'truth' rather than the verit� one - was in an Australian court in 1986 from Sir (later Lord) Robert Armstrong, a British civil servant. However, many famous people preceded him in its use including Samuel Pepys, Edmund Burke and Mark Twain.