Example: Son explication était tellement tirée par les cheveux que personne n'y croyait.
Definition
"Être tiré par les cheveux" is a French expression used to describe an idea, explanation, or argument that seems very unlikely, far-fetched, or exaggerated to the point of being hard to believe or accept as true.
Translations
To be far-fetched
Ser rebuscado
Ver gezocht zijn
Ser agafat pels pèls
An den Haaren herbeigezogen sein
Etymology
The phrase "Être tiré par les cheveux" literally means 'to be pulled by the hair'. It likely originated as a metaphor suggesting that something is stretched or forced beyond its natural limits, much like pulling hair unnaturally. This expression humorously conveys that an idea is so strained it feels almost physically uncomfortable or unrealistic.
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"Être tiré par les cheveux" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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To be far-fetched