To falsify numbers to one's advantage; to deliberately misstate figures or age (e.g., shave years off one's age or manipulate counts).
彼は面接で年齢をサバ読んでいると噂されている。
There's a rumor that he lied about his age in the interview.
釣果を少しサバ読んで自慢するのはよくない。
It's not good to exaggerate your catch a little to boast.
会計で数字をサバ読んでいたことが発覚して、会社は罰金を受けた。
It was discovered that the accounts had been manipulated, and the company was fined.
子供は年をサバ読んで、もう大きいと言いたがることがある。
Children sometimes lie about their age because they want to seem older.