slang or colloq. Also 9 tarri-, tally-. (cf. DIDDLE v.3 2, sb.2: the first element is obscure: cf. prec.] A trifling falsehood, a petty lie; a colloquial euphemism for a lie; a ‘fib.’
1796. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue (ed. 3), Taradiddle, a fib, or falsity.
1823. R. B. Peake, The Duel, II. i. Mrs. B. There’s a bare-faced tarradiddle, Mr. Barbottle.
1834. ‘Maj. J. Downing,’ Life A. Jackson, xxxv. 260. The public ruin is founded upon a mere tarradiddle that gammon’d you.
1844. J. T. Hewlett, Parsons & W., xliv. Telling a tarradiddle or two.
1865. Mrs. Gaskell, Wives & Dau., xlvii. Oh, don’t call them lies, sister; it’s such a strong, ugly word. Please call them tallydiddles, for I don’t believe she meant any harm.
1882. J. Payn, Thicker than Water, i. Our widow paid … the compliment of telling a ‘tarradiddle’ or white lie.
1885. Huxley, Lett., 23 Feb., in Life (1900), II. 9.7 Everybody told us it would be very cold, and, as usual, everybody told taradiddles.
