old wives' tale

In this context, the word “wives” means “women” and not “married women,” retaining the original sense of Old English wīf, which meant “woman” as well as “wife”. The phrase could be a reformation of Old English ealdra cwēna spell or a calque of Latin anīlis fābula, both literally “old women’s story.”

• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ɔld ˈwaɪvz teɪl/

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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.

   Synonym: anility

   • 1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 253:

     According to the old wives' tales that are related about this race of genii who inhabit Iceland and its vicinity, they have a political form of government modelled after the same pattern as that which the inhabitants themselves are under.

• old wife
• urban legend
• urban myth