The term 'stretch the truth' is a phrase used to describe the act of lying or exaggerating. The crossword solutions for this term are LIE (3 letters), EXAGGERATE (10 letters), TELLTALES (9 letters), and FIB (3 letters). All of these words refer to the same concept of not telling the truth, but in different ways. Lying is the most direct way of not telling the truth, while exaggerating is making something seem more important than it really is. TELLTALES are stories that are often exaggerated or untrue, and a FIB is a small LIE.