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- DictionaryOld wives' tale
noun
- 1. a superstition or traditional belief that is regarded as unscientific or incorrect.
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The meaning of OLD WIVES' TALE is an often traditional belief that is not based on fact : superstition. How to use old wives' tale in a sentence.
An " old wives' tale " is a colloquial expression referring to spurious or superstitious claims. They can be said sometimes to be a type of urban legend, said to be passed down by older women to a younger generation. Such tales are considered superstition, folklore or unverified claims with exaggerated and/or inaccurate details.
old wives' tale. noun [ C ] uk / ˌəʊld ˈwaɪvzˌteɪl / us / ˌoʊld ˈwaɪvzˌteɪl /. Add to word list. Add to word list. a piece of advice or a theory, often related to matters of health, that was believed in the past but is now known to be wrong. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases.
Old wives' tale definition: a traditional belief, story, or idea that is often of a superstitious nature.. See examples of OLD WIVES' TALE used in a sentence.
The term old wives' tale uses the oldest meaning of wife, "woman," and is actually quite derogatory. It comes from the tradition of mothers scaring their children out of unwanted behavior. Definitions of old wives' tale. noun. a bit of lore passed on by word of mouth. see more.
May 22, 2024 · noun. a belief, usually superstitious or erroneous, passed on by word of mouth as a piece of traditional wisdom. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. old wives' tale in American English. a silly story or superstitious belief. Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition.
Mar 9, 2024 · A rumour, myth or superstition; something which is almost certainly untrue, despite acceptance by many. Translations [ edit] ± supposed truth that has been passed down by word of mouth. ± rumour, myth or superstition. See also [ edit] old wife. urban legend. urban myth. Categories: English lemmas. English nouns. English countable nouns.
