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Idiom: Truth is stranger than fiction
The idiom truth is stranger than fiction captures the idea that real-life events can often be more bizarre or unbelievable than stories we create.
In simple terms, it means that what happens in the world can be more surprising and unusual than even the wildest imagination.
Truth is stranger than fiction is commonly used to highlight how life can present unexpected twists that no one could have predicted.
One of the main reasons people use truth is stranger than fiction is to explain real-life situations that seem too strange to be true.
For example, when we hear about the military on American streets or people being sent from America to prisons in other countries, we often think, “Wow, truth is stranger than fiction!”
It serves as a reminder that our world is full of fascinating and often unpredictable occurrences.
In literature and movies, this saying can also refer to storytelling.
Writers might take real events and find inspiration in them, demonstrating how truth is stranger than fiction can lead to compelling narratives.
This can be seen in the 2024 film Civil War about a modern-day civil war in the United States of America.
However, when we look at American news today, we see that the reality on the ground is more shocking than any fictional tale.
Moreover, we can apply the phrase in our everyday conversations.
When discussing Japanese news stories about record high temperatures of above 41℃ or a surprising historical defeat of the LDP in three elections in a row, we might say, “You know, truth is stranger than fiction!”
This helps emphasize how remarkable and unpredictable life can be.
Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
This post is understandable by someone with at least a 9th-grade education (age 15).
On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 54.
The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.
