vranyo

noun /vɹɑːˈnjəʊ/

1. White lies or half-lies ascribed to Russian culture, told without the intention of (maliciously) deceiving, but as a fantasy, or suppressing unpleasant parts of the truth

   uncountable

   If the reports from the Russian authorities aren't all vranyo, there were not many Chechens among the Beslan ghouls.

Where it comes from

From Russian враньё (vranʹjó, “lying, lies”), from врать (vratʹ, “to lie”). Introduced to English during Cold War, though the meaning ascribed to it doesn't corresponding to original Russian usage.

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry vranyo (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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