weit hergeholt

German

Alternative forms

• weithergeholt

Etymology

Literally the same as English far-fetched. One of the two may have influenced the other, though the German is certainly not a recent anglicism. The similarity may also be coincidental or there may be some classical basis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vaɪ̯tˈheːr.ɡəˌhoːlt/, [väe̯tˈheːɐ̯.ɡəˌhoːlt], [ʋäe̯t-], [-ˈhɛɐ̯-]

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Adjective

weit hergeholt (comparative weiter hergeholt or weit hergeholter, superlative am weitesten hergeholt or am weit hergeholtesten)

1. far-fetched (rather unlikely; resting the truth of several unknowns)

Usage notes

• Prescriptively speaking, the compared forms with a final ending should only exist in the univerbal spelling (weithergeholter, am weithergeholtesten), but weit hergeholter, am weit hergeholtesten are also found.

Synonyms

• an den Haaren herbeigezogen (usually stronger)