“Truth is stranger than fiction”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase Truth is stranger than fiction suggests that real-life events can be more unusual or surprising than those we invent in stories or imagination.
Tone Reflective and thought-provoking
Where it comes from
The phrase is attributed to Lord Byron, who wrote in his poem Don Juan in 1823: “Tis strange – but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fiction.”
Examples
- After hearing about the strange coincidence, she remarked, ‘Truth is stranger than fiction.’
- The documentary’s unexpected twists left viewers pondering how truth can be stranger than fiction.
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