old wives' tale

English

Etymology

In this context, the word "wives" means "women" not "married women." From Middle English wif ("woman"). This general sense of the term still continues today in words such as midwife and fishwife.

Noun

old wives' tale (plural old wives' tales)

1. A supposed truth that has been passed down by word of mouth
2. A rumour, myth or superstition; something which is almost certainly untrue, despite acceptance by many.

Translations

supposed truth that has been passed down by word of mouth

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 迷信的說法／迷信的说法, 迷信的说法 (míxìn de shuōfǎ)

• Esperanto: please add this translation if you can
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Finnish: huhupuhe (fi), akkojen puhe
• Latin: anīlis fābula f

rumour, myth or superstition

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 迷信的說法／迷信的说法, 迷信的说法 (míxìn de shuōfǎ)

• Danish: ammestuehistorie c
• Dutch: bakerpraatje (nl) n
• Esperanto: please add this translation if you can
• Finnish: harhaluulo (fi), akkojen puhe
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• German: Ammenmärchen (de) n
• Norwegian: kjerringsnakk
• Romanian: leac băbesc n
• Russian: бабьи сказки (babʹi skazki)
• Yiddish: באָבע־מעשׂה f (bobe-mayse)

See also

• old wife
• urban legend
• urban myth