a fish tale
A big lie. The phrase alludes to the tendency of fishermen to exaggerate the size of the fish they've caught or lost out on. I'm sure Grandpa is just telling you a fish tale—there's no way all of that's true! Like you really used to hang out with Madonna before she was famous! Talk about a fish tale. It's no fish tale—my great-uncle really did invent the modern television!
Banbury tale
A story that does not make sense or which rambles circuitously without apparent end. The old sailor, after several glasses of whiskey too many, began to tell some rambling Banbury tale, which none of us were able to decipher. A: "Do you know what actually happened to him last night?" B: "Not a clue. How could anyone follow that Banbury tale he just told?" Yeah, if Tad's in the middle of some Banbury tale, and it's time to close up shop for the day, just cut him off.
dead men tell no tales
proverb Those who are dead cannot reveal secrets. The boss wants us to kill that guy because it's the only way we can guarantee his silence—dead men tell no tales, after all. A: "Make sure no one witnessed what just happened here, and if they did…." B: "Dead men tell no tales. Got it, boss." The mob boss knows that dead men tell no tales, so if he thinks you're the informant, you're in serious trouble.
don't tell tales out of school
Do not share secrets or spread rumors with other people, as doing so will likely cause problems for someone else and will alienate you from them. Hey, I heard what you were saying at the bar the other night. Here's a tip: Don't tell tales out of school about your co-workers, or you aren't likely to have any friends here before long. Hey, don't tell tales out of school. How would you like it if people broadcast your secrets, huh? Don't tell tales out of school, especially if you learned them by eavesdropping!
fairy tale
1. noun A lie or fabricated account of something (likened to a clearly fictional fantasy story). I know he's telling me fairy tales to avoid admitting his mistakes. Please, there's no way that Mom is going to believe some fairy tale like that. Just tell her the truth. I didn't want to get in trouble, so I told my teacher a fairy tale about my homework blowing away as I walked to school.
2. adjective Resembling a fantasy story, especially due to being entirely positive or happy or having a happy ending. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated. I really want a fairy-tale wedding, complete with a beautiful gown and a fancy cake. It wasn't some fairy-tale marriage, you know. We had our problems. The championship victory is a fairy-tale ending for a team that just last year was ranked last in the league.
never tell tales out of school
Do not share secrets or spread rumors with other people, as doing so will likely cause problems for someone else and will alienate you from them. Hey, I heard what you were saying at the bar the other night. Here's a tip: Never tell tales out of school about your co-workers, or you aren't likely to have any friends here before long.
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.
tale of woe
A story detailing one's personal problems or grievances, especially when used as an excuse for some failure. Mary's been late with three of her last four projects, and she's always got some tale of woe or another ready to justify her tardiness. I try not to sit next to Tom when we go the bar after work. After a beer or two, he invariable starts in on one of his tales of woe.
tall tale
A greatly exaggerated or particularly imaginative story or account of something. My uncle has always been fond of telling tall tales about his time overseas. I used to believe him when I was a kid, but now I've learned to just laugh along.
tell a tall tale
To narrate a story that is greatly exaggerated or particularly imaginative, such that it is difficult to believe. My uncle has always been fond of telling tall tales about his time overseas. I used to believe him when I was a kid.
tell tales
To share secrets, often knowing that doing so will cause problems for someone else. Here's a tip: don't tell tales about your co-workers if you want to have any friends here.
tell tales out of school
To share secrets, often knowing that doing so will cause problems for someone else. Here's a tip: don't tell tales out of school about your co-workers if you want to have any friends here.
urban tale
A local myth, legend, or piece of folklore that becomes widely spread through informal means, especially by word of mouth, usually describing, dealing with, or attempting to explain mysterious, macabre, horrific, or humorous events or happenings. A: "Did you ever hear about the kid whose stomach exploded from eating Pop Rocks and drinking soda at the same time?" B: "Oh, that's just a silly old urban tale." I remember hearing an urban tale about a young woman who hides in a chest in her attic for game of hide-and-seek on her wedding day. She gets locked inside and isn't found until many years later.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Dead men tell no tales.
Prov. Dead people will not betray any secrets. The club members liked to hold their secret meetings in a graveyard, since dead men tell no tales. Gangster: Mugsy is going to tell the police that we robbed the bank. How can we stop him? Henchman: Dead men tell no tales.
Never tell tales out of school.
Prov. Do not tell secrets; do not gossip. Fred: I just learned something really scandalous about the president of our company. Ellen: Well, I don't want to hear it. You shouldn't tell tales out of school.
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.
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.
tell tales out of school
to tell secrets or spread rumors. I wish that John would keep quiet. He's telling tales out of school again. If you tell tales out of school a lot, people won't know when to believe you.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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.
tall tale
A fanciful or greatly exaggerated story, as in Some youngsters love tall tales about creatures from outer space coming to earth. This idiom uses tall in the sense of "exaggerated." [Mid-1800s]
tell tales
Divulge secrets, as in Don't trust him; he's apt to tell tales. This expression was first recorded about 1350. A variant, tell tales out of school, first recorded in 1530, presumably alluded to schoolchildren gossiping but was soon broadened to revealing secret or private information. Both may be obsolescent.
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.