Old Wives' Tale (Noun)
Meaning
A bit of lore passed on by word of mouth.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The idea that cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis is just an old wives' tale with no scientific basis.
- Eating carrots will improve your eyesight is an old wives' tale that has been debunked by several studies.
- Don't let anyone tell you that if you go outside with wet hair, you'll catch a cold – it's just an old wives' tale.
- Many old wives' tales advise against swimming after eating, but this myth has been largely discredited.
- The notion that you should feed a cold and starve a fever is an old wives' tale that remains a topic of debate among health experts.