tale

A story about real or imagined people and events.

• Grandma told us a tale.
• The children loved the tale about a talking fox.
• Have you read any fairy tales from Japan?

How to use it: a tale of something (She wrote a tale of adventure at sea.)

Similar words: story, narrative

Common phrases: fairy tale, adventure tale, tell a tale, tale of something

A story about someone that may be untrue or intended to cause trouble.

• Don’t tell tales about your sister.
• She spread a malicious tale about her neighbor.
• Nobody believed his tale about the stolen money.

How to use it: tell tales about someone (He was punished for telling tales about his classmates.)

Similar words: lie, rumor, gossip

Common phrases: tell a tale, malicious tale, tale about someone