Definition

1. Noun:
   • An old wives' tale: A traditional belief, superstition, or piece of advice, often about health, luck, or life, that is widely held but considered to be unscientific, foolish, or untrue. It is typically passed down through informal storytelling, especially by older women.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The idea that eating carrots improves your night vision is an old wives' tale.
  • She dismissed the warning as just an old wives' tale with no basis in fact.
  • Many parents still believe the old wives' tale that you shouldn't swim right after eating.

Advanced Usage

• Used to dismiss unscientific claims: The phrase is often used to critique or mock beliefs perceived as outdated or irrational.
  • The doctor explained that the remedy was nothing more than an old wives' tale.
• Implies oral tradition: The term inherently references the method of transmission—by word of mouth, often across generations.

Variants and Related Words

• Superstition (n): A widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences, especially as leading to good or bad luck.
  • Breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck is a common superstition.
• Myth (n): A widely held but false belief or idea; a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people.
  • The myth that we only use 10% of our brains is persistent.

Synonyms

• Superstition: An irrational belief.
• Fallacy: A mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument.
• Fable: A short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral; can also mean a false statement or belief.

Related Phrases

• Tall tale: A story that is difficult to believe because it is exaggerated.
  • His account of the fishing trip was a tall tale.
• Urban legend: A modern story of obscure origin and with little or no supporting evidence that spreads spontaneously in varying forms.
  • The story about the alligators in the sewers is a classic urban legend.

Related Idioms

• Take (something) with a grain of salt: To be skeptical about something, not to take it too seriously.
  • I heard that advice, but I take it with a grain of salt—it sounds like an old wives' tale.

Noun

1. a bit of lore passed on by word of mouth