[Ads-l] NYTimes: "A _fathom_ of lies"

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Dan Goncharoff wrote:
> Perhaps the kid invented a needed word that doesn't exist...

I’ve heard the express “fathomless lies” where “fathomless” means
“unable to be measured or understood; extremely deep.” Conceivable the
student heard “fathomless lies” and constructed “fathom of lies”.

Here is one sample match when I Google “fathomless lies”:
Date: September 9, 1886
Periodical: Boston Medical and Surgical Journal

[Begin excerpt]
The papers that hoist before the public the figures of their
circulation—apt to be fathomless lies— . .  .
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Fri, Dec 7, 2018 at 9:04 PM Dan Goncharoff <thegonch at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Perhaps the kid invented a needed word that doesn't exist...
>
> On Fri, Dec 7, 2018, 1:57 PM Andy Bach <afbach at gmail.com wrote:
>
> > *A Times investigation* found that a Louisiana school previously celebrated
> > for getting underprivileged black students into top colleges falsified
> > transcripts, invented student accomplishments and exploited the worst
> > stereotypes of black America
> > <
> > http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=pMJKdIFVI6pghfX2HXfSzxRpdoyDWYNWuWr9t/FYfi7Pbcgy+RdIKQMy92vRGnAsnc59Sb4RPqeK5m3DMVZtkH8T/iZV7tK2yG31j3AJwpDFcS8Tr/jnxcDl0ngi4EHXhKw/L7u26I+xN1Z8juZ13Upti3q2ujunOnqxZl3YOy0=&campaign_id=57&instance_id=5823&segment_id=8223&user_id=a908a479818f024d9e05edf3ee8eded0&regi_id=5433534720181130
> > >.
> >
> >
> > “I was just a small piece in a whole fathom of lies,” one former student
> > said.
> >
> >
> > https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/us/tm-landry-college-prep-black-students.html?emc=edit_ne_20181130&nl=evening-briefing&nlid=5433534720181130&te=1
> >
> > "Fabric of lies" maybe?
> > --
> >
> > a
> >
> > Andy Bach,
> > afbach at gmail.com
> > 608 658-1890 cell
> > 608 261-5738 wk
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org