humorous reference to a statement attributed to GeorgeWashington (1732 - 1799), US general and first president of the United States (1789 - 1797). According to a biographer, the young GeorgeWashington received a new hatchet and used it to chop down his father's prized cherry tree. His father demanded to know how the tree had fallen. George was tempted to deny his misdeed, but then, "looking at his father with the sweet face of youth brightened with the inexpressible charm of all-conquering truth, he bravely cried out, `I can't tell a lie. I did cut it with my hatchet.' " —3rd South African published appr gls (14.4.92)