just-so story
The term "just-so story" originates from Rudyard Kipling's collection of children's tales and is used in various contexts to describe explanations that are often imaginative or speculative.
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Definition
B2Literature
(children's stories)A tale, often featuring animals, that provides imaginative explanations for natural phenomena or animal characteristics.
Example
- Kipling's stories like 'How the Leopard Got His Spots' are classic examples of just-so stories.
C1Science and Philosophy
(derogatory)An untestable and speculative explanation for a trait or behavior, often criticized for lacking empirical evidence.
Example
- Critics argue that the hypothesis is merely a just-so story, lacking rigorous scientific backing.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "just-so story":