(old) fishwives' tale

A story or idea, especially one rooted in superstition, that has been spread or passed along as truth but which should probably not be believed. A variant of "old wives' tale." It reminds me of the old fishwives' about mermaids who protect the ships in our harbor because of some sailors who saved them years ago. A: "You've got the flu? Make sure you spread mentholated ointment on your feet when you go to bed." B: "Pretty sure that's just a fishwives' tale, dude." Oh, that's just an old fishwives' tale! A broken mirror does not guarantee seven years' bad luck.

a good husband makes a good wife

proverb If a husband treats his wife well, she will treat him well in return. I do the dishes because it gives Shannon much needed time to relax, and a good husband makes a good wife. My husband and I split the nighttime feedings as much as we can. He's no dummy—he knows that a good husband makes a good wife. I never had any regrets about getting married, not for one minute. A good husband makes a good wife, and your father and I made each other feel loved every day.

a son is a son until he takes a wife

After an adult son marries and has a family of his own, he tends to become less involved with the family he grew up with. Used especially in reference to a mother–son relationship. Usually included as part of a longer phrase, "a son is a son until he takes a wife; a daughter is a daughter all of her life." A: "I just hate that Tom doesn't take my advice anymore." B: "Look, Julie, Tom is married now and has a life of his own. A son is a son until he takes a wife, so just let him be." You'll always be my little girl, Denise. A son is a son until he takes a wife, but a daughter is a daughter all her life. My wife is worried that our relationship with Andrew will suffer once he's married. You know, "a son is a son until he takes a wife," and all that.

left-handed wife

obsolete A woman who maintains a sexual relationship with a married man; a mistress. You're just his left-handed wife, so you realize that you have no claim to his financial assets, right? The former governor had been predicted to win the presidential election in a landslide, until it came out that he had a left-handed wife. Then, he started tanking in the polls.

old wives' tale

A now-debunked story or idea that was once believed, often superstitiously. How can you believe in that old wives' tale? Oh, that's just an old wives' tale! A broken mirror does not guarantee seven years' bad luck.

See also: old, tale

trophy wife

cliché A wife whom a man has married primarily or solely for her youth and good looks, and who has married her husband because of his wealth, power, or success. You're such a bimbo that the only way you'll ever succeed is if some old rich dude takes you as his trophy wife some day! I know a lot of people assume I'm Don's trophy wife or something, but the love between us is very strong and very real.

A good husband makes a good wife.

and A good Jack makes a good Jill.

Prov. If a husband or man wants his wife or girlfriend to be respectful and loving to him, he should be respectful and loving to her. Don't blame your wife for being short-tempered with you; you've been so unpleasant to her lately. A good husband makes a good wife.

old wives' tale

Fig. a myth or superstition. You really don't believe that stuff about starving a cold do you? It's just an old wives' tale.

See also: old, tale

old wives' tale

A superstition, as in Toads cause warts? That's an old wives' tale. This expression was already known in ancient Greece, and a version in English was recorded in 1387. Despite invoking bigoted stereotypes of women and old people, it survives.

See also: old, tale

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

an old wives' tale

COMMON An old wives' tale is a belief that a lot of people have that is based on traditional ideas, often ones which have been proved to be incorrect. My mother used to tell me to feed a cold and starve a fever. Is it just an old wives' tale? It's not just an old wives' tale, you know, that full moons and madness go together.

an old wives' tale

a widely held traditional belief that is now thought to be unscientific or incorrect.

The phrase (and its earlier variant old wives' fable ) is recorded from the early 16th century, with the earliest example being from Tyndale's translation of the Bible.

an old ˈwives’ tale

(disapproving) an old idea or belief that has proved not to be scientific: When you’re expecting a baby, people tell you all sorts of old wives’ tales. ♢ The belief that make-up ruins your skin is just an old wives’ tale.

old wives' tale

A superstitious story. This term actually dates back to Plato, who repeated the phrase in a number of writings and was so cited by Erasmus. In English a version of it appeared in John Trevisa’s translation of Polycronicon, “And useth telynges as olde wifes dooth” (1387), and then began to be used frequently from the sixteenth century on. “These are trifles and mere old wives’ tales” wrote Christopher Marlowe in Doctor Faustus (ca. 1589). Arnold Bennett used it as the title of a novel (1908), and this sex-and age-biased cliché persists to the present day.

See also: old, tale

trophy wife

A young woman, usually a second wife, who is married for her extreme attractiveness and/or accomplishments, which her wealthy and powerful husband wants to show off as a winner might display a trophy. The term may have been coined earlier but became popular after it appeared in Fortune, where Julie Connelly wrote, “Powerful men are beginning to demand trophy wives” (Aug. 28, 1989). It is now a cliché.