# tell it to Sweeney

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tell-it-to-sweeney
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

I do not believe what you said.

## Examples

- You think I believe that? Tell it to Sweeney.
- She says she won the lottery, but you should tell it to Sweeney.
- He claimed he was late because of a parade, but I told him to tell it to Sweeney.
- My brother said he finished all his chores in five minutes, but I just told him to tell it to Sweeney.
- If your boss promises a huge bonus after such a bad year, you can tell it to Sweeney because it is not happening.
- When the politician insisted that the missing funds were merely a clerical error, the skeptical public effectively told it to Sweeney.

## Origin

"Tell it to Sweeney! (The Stuyvesants will understand.)” was an advertisement for the New York (NY) Daily News, first appearing in August 1922. The Daily News positioned itself as the newspaper of the average working man—such as the Irish “Sweeney.” The name “Stuyvesant” was used to represent blue bloods. Thus, if you advertise in the Daily News and reach the Sweeneys of New York City, the Stuyvesants will also get the message.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.