Definition Synonyms
Definition of tale - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
storynarrative of real or imaginary events
- She told a tale of adventure and bravery.
2.
literaturestory, often involving magic or adventure
- She enchanted the children with an old pirate's tale..
3.
communicationRare trivial or small lieRare
- He often tells a tale to avoid trouble.
Expressions with tale
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exaggerated or untrue story
He told a fish tale about catching a giant fish.
story that is hard to believe
Her explanation sounded like a fisherman's tale to me.
story with exaggerated and unbelievable elements
He told a tall tale about catching a giant fish.
superstition passed down orally
The idea that eating carrots improves night vision is an old wives' tale.
create a story often with imaginative details
The old man loved to spin a tale about his adventures.
to narrate an exaggerated or improbable story
He loves to tell a tall tale about his adventures.
show meaning clearly without needing more words
The results tell its own tale.
narrate a story or event
She loves to tell the tale of her travels.
unexpected change in a story's direction
The novel's twist in the tale left readers in shock.
detailed comparison of statistics or measurements
The tale of the tape showed the boxer's reach advantage.
create a story with intricate details
She can weave a tale that captivates everyone.
tell a story to persuade or entertain
She pitched a tale about her adventures to the children.
story with magical creatures for children
She read a fairy tale before bed.
princess in a traditional children's story
The fairy tale princess lived in a castle and awaited her prince.
having a magical or highly unrealistic quality
The castle had a fairy-tale atmosphere.
story warning about a specific danger
The fable of the tortoise and the hare is a cautionary tale.
fairy tale altered for humor or satire
The play was a fractured fairy tale that had everyone laughing.
story about a hero's brave deeds
The heroic tale of Hercules is legendary.
story teaching a lesson about right and wrong
The fable of the tortoise and the hare is a classic morality tale.
narrate a story or event
She loves to tell a tale about her travels.
story told in winter, often with magic or fantasy
He listened to a winter's tale by the fire.
telling stories, real or imagined, to others
Tale-telling was a favorite pastime in the village.
survive a serious danger or hardship and still be okay afterward
Many soldiers faced heavy fire but live to tell the tale.
story about brave or adventurous deeds
The novel is a thrilling tale of derring-do.
Origin of tale
Old English, talu (story)
Terms with tale included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
storytelling
narrate a tale to me
fairy tale ending
ending with a perfect and lasting happy result
ancient tale
narrative from the past often told many times
fairy tale figure
character in fairy tales who helps someone, often by magical means
untrue account
false or unbelievable tale
storytelling
used to start a fairy tale or story
fantasy
unreal or magical like a children's fairy tale
storytelling
used to start a story or tale
literature
cliché or overused tale
stories
fairy tale about a girl and a monster
fairy tale
shoe made of glass from a fairy tale
fairy tale ending
experience a life of happiness and contentment
literature
character in a fairy tale
perfect scene
situation that feels like a fairy tale
historical literature
short narrative tale with a moral point
medieval story
medieval tale of adventure
informal
disturbing rumor or tale
literature
relating to the folk-tale character Ali Baba
moral tale
short moral story often with animals as characters
literature
fairy tale character who kills his wives
literary form
short story or tale, often with a moral
story
tale or story, often fictional
literature
tale of adventure or romance in verse
folk culture
treated as famous tale rather than strict fact, often idealized
Examples of tale in a sentence
His tale of survival was truly inspiring. He spun a tale of dragons and knights. The grandmother's tale of her youth was fascinating. She spun a tale about why she was late. His tale about the missing homework was unconvincing.
View all translations of tale
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:conte, mensonge, ...
- German:Geschichte, Unwahrheit, ...
- Italian:racconto, favola, ...
- Spanish:historia, mentirijilla, ...
- Portuguese:história, mentirinha, ...
- Chinese:故事, 小谎言, ...
- Japanese:物語, 作り話, ...
- Arabic:حِكَايَة, كِذْبَة صَغِيرَة, ...
- Hebrew:סִיפּוּר, אֲגָדָה, ...
- Russian:рассказ, небылица, ...
- Ukrainian:історія, оповідання, ...
- Hindi:कहानी, किस्सा, ...
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