an 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

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

an old wives' tale

COMMON An old wives' tale is a belief that a lot of people have that is based on traditional ideas, often ones which have been proved to be incorrect. My mother used to tell me to feed a cold and starve a fever. Is it just an old wives' tale? It's not just an old wives' tale, you know, that full moons and madness go together.

See also: old, tale

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

an old wives' tale

a widely held traditional belief that is now thought to be unscientific or incorrect.

The phrase (and its earlier variant old wives' fable ) is recorded from the early 16th century, with the earliest example being from Tyndale's translation of the Bible.

See also: old, tale

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

an old ˈwives’ tale

(disapproving) an old idea or belief that has proved not to be scientific: When you’re expecting a baby, people tell you all sorts of old wives’ tales. The belief that make-up ruins your skin is just an old wives’ tale.

See also: old, tale

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

See also:

make old bones
bolt bucket
geezer
a piece of old tackie
have whisker
be (as) old as the hills
any old
mossback
bucket of bolts
of old

References in periodicals archive

However, an old wives' tale about baby bumps may be serving as a clue when it comes to whether or not Meghan Markle will have a son or a daughter.

Why Meghan Markle Might Have A Boy

It's possibly an old wives' tale, but it is said that if you rub bat's blood on a new born child they will not grow hair, even into adulthood.

The Six: Traditional beauty tricks, from bat's blood to mayonnaise

According to an old wives' tale this can be linked to babies being born with an above-average amount of hair.

Hairy Jesse's a little ringer for Dennis the Menace

There's an old wives' tale that supposedly predicts the baby's gender based on how fast or slow their heart is beating.

I've heard that... If your baby's heart rate is slow it's a boy

GARY C ARY CRUDEN SOME voters could leave it until later in the day to cast vote if an old wives' tale is to be believed.

Sun's set to shine as we head to poll

No, it's not an old wives' tale told to Jewish children to keep them on the straight and narrow.

A Horror Story Set in the Hasidic Enclave of Crown Heights, Written by a Former Van Driver

We didn't want to find out but the midwife was convinced it was a girl due to an old wives' tale - apparently if the heart beats faster it's a girl.

Having a baby boy was a big surprise

This week's winner is Pauline O'Dowd, of Nottingham, who says: "I thought it was an old wives' tale that yucca plants like tea.

TAKE A TIP

It's an old wives' tale that cows lie down when it's about to rain.

YOU ASK & WE ANSWER; Your say

Evidently there are twins on both sides if you look back far enough, although Portman dismisses the idea that they run in families as "an old wives' tale".

Racing people: Happy Portmans get the double up

A NO, it's just an old wives' tale. There is no evidence calcium deficiency during pregnancy affects the strength of your teeth.

I'M pregnant

There's an old wives' tale that if you get heartburn during your pregnancy your baby will be born with a lot of hair - I had really bad heartburn.

The birth of ...Rebecca Linnett

I think it's an old wives' tale - it's just what your mother told you but nobody really knows."

Your Views; YESTERDAY was Friday the 13th - but do you think the date's as unlucky as folklore has it?

There's an old wives' tale in that country that the team who take the pitch first always loses.

Football: Lokomotiv Minsk

RE: SMACKING: ``Spare the rod and spoil the child'' is not an old wives' tale as stated by Sue Woolmore, NSPCC Public Policy Adviser for the North (Daily Post, November 9 ).

Parental support

词组	an old wives' tale
释义	an 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 Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. an old wives' tale COMMON An old wives' tale is a belief that a lot of people have that is based on traditional ideas, often ones which have been proved to be incorrect. My mother used to tell me to feed a cold and starve a fever. Is it just an old wives' tale? It's not just an old wives' tale, you know, that full moons and madness go together. See also: old, tale Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. an old wives' tale a widely held traditional belief that is now thought to be unscientific or incorrect. The phrase (and its earlier variant old wives' fable ) is recorded from the early 16th century, with the earliest example being from Tyndale's translation of the Bible. See also: old, tale Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary an old ˈwives’ tale (disapproving) an old idea or belief that has proved not to be scientific: When you’re expecting a baby, people tell you all sorts of old wives’ tales. The belief that make-up ruins your skin is just an old wives’ tale. See also: old, tale Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary See also: make old bones bolt bucket geezer a piece of old tackie have whisker be (as) old as the hills any old mossback bucket of bolts of old References in periodicals archive However, an old wives' tale about baby bumps may be serving as a clue when it comes to whether or not Meghan Markle will have a son or a daughter. Why Meghan Markle Might Have A Boy It's possibly an old wives' tale, but it is said that if you rub bat's blood on a new born child they will not grow hair, even into adulthood. The Six: Traditional beauty tricks, from bat's blood to mayonnaise According to an old wives' tale this can be linked to babies being born with an above-average amount of hair. Hairy Jesse's a little ringer for Dennis the Menace There's an old wives' tale that supposedly predicts the baby's gender based on how fast or slow their heart is beating. I've heard that... If your baby's heart rate is slow it's a boy GARY C ARY CRUDEN SOME voters could leave it until later in the day to cast vote if an old wives' tale is to be believed. Sun's set to shine as we head to poll No, it's not an old wives' tale told to Jewish children to keep them on the straight and narrow. A Horror Story Set in the Hasidic Enclave of Crown Heights, Written by a Former Van Driver We didn't want to find out but the midwife was convinced it was a girl due to an old wives' tale - apparently if the heart beats faster it's a girl. Having a baby boy was a big surprise This week's winner is Pauline O'Dowd, of Nottingham, who says: "I thought it was an old wives' tale that yucca plants like tea. TAKE A TIP It's an old wives' tale that cows lie down when it's about to rain. YOU ASK & WE ANSWER; Your say Evidently there are twins on both sides if you look back far enough, although Portman dismisses the idea that they run in families as "an old wives' tale". Racing people: Happy Portmans get the double up A NO, it's just an old wives' tale. There is no evidence calcium deficiency during pregnancy affects the strength of your teeth. I'M pregnant There's an old wives' tale that if you get heartburn during your pregnancy your baby will be born with a lot of hair - I had really bad heartburn. The birth of ...Rebecca Linnett I think it's an old wives' tale - it's just what your mother told you but nobody really knows." Your Views; YESTERDAY was Friday the 13th - but do you think the date's as unlucky as folklore has it? There's an old wives' tale in that country that the team who take the pitch first always loses. Football: Lokomotiv Minsk RE: SMACKING: ``Spare the rod and spoil the child'' is not an old wives' tale as stated by Sue Woolmore, NSPCC Public Policy Adviser for the North (Daily Post, November 9 ). Parental support
随便看	where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise Where in Sam Hill? where (in) (the) hell where (in) (the) Sam Hill Where in the Sam Hill? wonder about (someone or something) wonder at wonder at (someone or something) wonderful wonder if wonder if (something) wondering Wonders never cease! wonders (will) never cease wonders will never cease wonder water wonder whether (something) wonk wonky wont won't bite won't bother me any won't breathe a word won't budge an inch won't hear a word against (someone or something)