old wives' tale
An "old wives' tale" refers to a widely held belief or superstition that has been passed down through generations, often without scientific evidence or factual basis.
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Definition
B2Folklore
(informal)A traditional belief or superstition passed down through generations, often lacking scientific evidence.
Example
- My grandmother told me an old wives' tale about how eating carrots improves your night vision.
B2General
(informal)A widely held but false or unproven notion, often related to health or household remedies.
Example
- The idea that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis is just an old wives' tale.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "old wives' tale":