base/vile canard

[khanhhung2512]

I'd like to ask what the sentence in italic means:
To call a lying tale a base canard or a vile canard is to descend to a cliché.
Thank you very much.

 

[bhaisahab]

Please quote the source of that sentence.

 

[khanhhung2512]

Please quote the source of that sentence.

The source is "Barron's GRE, 18th Edition (2009)".
Thanks again.

 

[bhaisahab]

What is the context?

 

[khanhhung2512]

What is the context?

It's an example sentence to illustrate how the word "canard" is used in context. Following is the whole entry:

canard N. false or unfounded story; fabricated report. Rather than becoming upset by the National Enquirer story about Tony’s supposed infidelity, Tina refused to take the canard seriously. To call a lying tale a base canard or a vile canard is to descend to a cliché.

There are two sentences, but I didn't think they were related so I only quoted one.

 

[bhaisahab]

Which words do you not understand?

 

[khanhhung2512]

Which words do you not understand?

I don't understand why calling a lying tale a base/vile canard is tantamount to descending to a cliché.

 

[bhaisahab]

Frankly, nor do I.

 

[GoesStation]

Both base canard and vile canard were at one time clichés. Presumably the quoted citation was written during that period.