The Varnished Truth is an idiom that refers to a situation where the truth is hidden or distorted in order to make it more palatable. The term is derived from the idea of varnishing, which is a process of applying a protective coating to wood or metal to make it look better. In this context, the 'VARNISH' is used to hide the truth and make it more appealing. The crossword solution for this term is LIE, which is a false statement made with the intention of deceiving someone.