folk tale
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A story originating in popular culture, typically passed down orally from generation to generation among ordinary people. It often features traditional beliefs, myths, legends, or moral lessons.
Usage
The term "folk tale" is used to describe a traditional, anonymous story that is part of the cultural heritage of a community. It is a countable noun.
Examples
- The grandmother told the children a folk tale about a clever rabbit and a sly fox.
- Many cultures have a folk tale that explains how the world was created.
- Scholars study these ancient folk tales to understand the values of past societies.
Advanced Usage
- "To pass into folk tale": To become so legendary or widely known that it becomes like a traditional story.
- His exploits have passed into folk tale and are no longer questioned.
Variants and Related Words
- Folktale (noun): A common alternative spelling, written as one word.
- Folk story (noun): A synonym with identical meaning.
- Folklore (noun): The broader body of customs, traditions, and stories of a community, which includes folk tales.
- Fairy tale (noun): A specific type of folk tale that often involves magical creatures and enchantments.
Synonyms
- Legend
- Myth
- Fable
- Traditional story
- Old wives' tale
Related Idioms
- "Just a folk tale": Used to dismiss a story as fictional, exaggerated, or not based on fact.
- Don't worry about the monster in the lake; that's just a folk tale to scare children.
Noun
- a tale circulated by word of mouth among the common folk