weit hergeholt
German
Alternative forms
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
Adjective
weit hergeholt (comparative weiter hergeholt or weit hergeholter, superlative am weitesten hergeholt or am weit hergeholtesten)
- 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.
Declension
Synonyms
- an den Haaren herbeigezogen (usually stronger)