Etymology

• Believed to be from Edmund Burke. "Falsehood and delusion are allowed in no case whatever: but, as in the exercise of all the virtues, there is an economy of truth. It is a sort of temperance, by which a man speaks truth with measure that he may speak it the longer."

Adjective

1. not telling the whole truth, especially in order to present a false image of a situation; untruthful; lying. Often used with sarcasm or satire

   I would be being economical with the truth if I were to tell you that I was enjoying myself.