old wives' tale



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.
See also: old, tale

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.
See also: old, tale

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.
See also: old, tale

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
NeasaNYAS-a, NAS-aIrish, Irish Mythology
StankoSTAHN-ko (Slovene, Croatian)Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian
Tane-Maori, Polynesian Mythology
Bernadette[.bə:nə'det]
Dagmar['dægma:]
Rubina-Italian