old wives' tale

Definitions

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.

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

CEFR level