Definition

1. Noun:
   • A story, especially a fictional or imaginative one: A "tale" is a narrative, often involving events that are invented or exaggerated, designed to entertain or instruct.
   • A falsehood or lie, especially a trivial one: "Tale" can also refer to a fabricated statement or story, often told to deceive or mislead.
   • (Archaic) A count or total number: An old-fashioned use meaning a count or reckoning.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Story):
  • She wrote a fascinating tale about a dragon and a knight.
  • Grandfather told us tales of his youth.
• Noun (Falsehood):
  • He was caught telling tales about his homework.
  • Don't believe his tales; he's just trying to avoid trouble.

Advanced Usage

• "to tell tales": To reveal someone's secrets or misdeeds, often to an authority figure; to tattle.
  • The younger sister always tells tales on her brother.
• "a tale of woe": A story or account full of misfortune or sadness.
  • He recounted a long tale of woe about his lost luggage and missed flight.
• "That tells its own tale.": That situation or evidence is clear and needs no further explanation.
  • The empty cookie jar and the crumbs on his face tell their own tale.

Variants and Related Words

• Tall tale (n): An exaggerated, improbable story.
  • He's known for his tall tales about fishing.
• Fairy tale (n): A children's story about magical and imaginary beings and lands.
  • "Cinderella" is a classic fairy tale.

Synonyms

• Story: A general term for an account of events, real or imagined.
• Narrative: A spoken or written account of connected events.
• Fib: A small or trivial lie.
• Yarn: Informal term for a long, often adventurous or fanciful story.

Related Phrases

• Old wives' tale: A commonly held traditional belief that is considered to be unscientific or false.
  • The idea that carrots improve your eyesight is an old wives' tale.
• Twice-told tale: A story or piece of information that has been repeated and is no longer new or interesting.
  • His excuses are just a twice-told tale; no one believes him anymore.

Idioms

• To tell its own tale: To be self-explanatory; for the facts to be evident without needing commentary.
  • The state of the room told its own tale about the wild party.
• A tale never loses in the telling: Stories often become more exaggerated each time they are retold.
  • By the time the rumor reached me, it was a huge scandal—a tale never loses in the telling.

Noun

1. a trivial lie
   • he told a fib about eating his spinach
   • how can I stop my child from telling stories?
2. a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
   • his narrative was interesting
   • Disney's stories entertain adults as well as children