tale

fish story and fish tale

Fig. a great big lie. (Like a fisherman who exaggerates the size of the fish that got away.) That's just a fish story. Don't try to fool me. He's a master at the fish tale. Maybe he should be a politician.

See also: fish, story

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 never loses in the telling

Prov. When people tell stories, they tend to exaggerate. Johnny's bicycle accident tale never loses in the telling; he convinced his friends that four semi trucks had been involved, when in fact he only ran into one parked car.

See also: lose, never, telling

tale of woe

a sad story; a list of personal problems; an excuse for failing to do something. I listened to her tale of woe without saying anything. This tale of woe that we have all been getting from Kelly is just too much.

See also: woe

tell its own story and tell its own tale

Fig. [for the state of something] to indicate clearly what has happened. The upturned boat told its own tale. The fisherman had drowned. The girl's tear-stained face told its own story.

See also: story, tell

thereby hangs a tale

there is an interesting story connected with this matter. Yes, she comes in late most mornings, and thereby hangs a tale. She has a drinking problem.

See also: hang

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a tall story/tale

a story or a statement that is difficult to believe because it is too exciting or interesting He told me a tall story about having met some top models in a nightclub.

See also: story, tall

an old wives' tale

a piece of advice or an idea which a lot of people believed in the past but which we now know is wrong It's an old wives' tale that drinking alcohol before you go to bed helps you sleep.

See also: old

live to tell the tale

to still be alive after a dangerous or frightening experience I should imagine very few people have fallen from that height and lived to tell the tale. I had dinner with her and lived to tell the tale.

See also: live, tell

tell its own tale  (British & Australian)

if something tells its own tale, it shows the truth about a situation She may smile in public, but the expression in her eyes tells its own tale.

See also: tell

Thereby/Therein hangs a tale.  (British & Australian humorous)

something that you say when you have been asked about something that needs a long explanation 'So what were you doing in Nick's garage at three o'clock in the morning?' 'Ah, thereby hangs a tale.'

See also: hang