Phrase Finder

Old wive's tale

Posted by Victoria S Dennis September 24, 2010 at 14:07In reply to Old wive's tale posted by Bill on September 24, 2010 at 11:38:

What is the origin of the phrase: "Old wive's tale"?

Old wives' tales were the kind of stories old wives (i.e. working-class women) used to tell. These women were presumed to be superstitious and uneducated, so the things they told you were not to be taken as scientific truth. (VSD)