subs. (colloquial).—An incredible story; a marvellous narration: also OLD WIFE’S (or OLD MAN’S) TALE: see BULL and TUB. Whence TALE-TELLER (B. E. and GROSE) = ‘Persons said to have been hired to tell wonderful stories of giants and fairies, to lull hearers to sleep.’ Also TO TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL = (1) to romance, and (2) to play the informer: TELL-TALE (or TELL-TALE-TIT) = an informer; to TELL A TALE = to turn a matter to profit; ‘HIS TALE IS TOLD’ = ‘It is all over with him’; TO BE IN A TALE = to agree: also TO JUMP IN ONE TALE; THEREBY HANGS A TALE, or TELL THAT FOR A TALE (the retort suggestive) = ‘That’s another story’; TO PITCH A TALE = to spin a yarn: hence TALE-PITCHER = a romancing talker or chattering malcontent.
1469. Coventry Mysteries [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 316. We see the phrases: take it or ellys lef … TELLE NO TALYS].
d. 1536. TYNDALE [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 429]. TO TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL.
1546. HEYWOOD, Proverbs. TO TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOLE.
1590. PEELE, The Old Wives Tale [BULLEN], 99. I am content to drive away the time with AN OLD WIVES’ winter’s TALE.
1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse, His Supplication to the Divell, 66. Not two of them IUMPE IN ONE TALE.
1596. SHAKESPEARE, Merry Wives of Windsor, iv. 1. Quick. Have not your worship a wart above your eye? Fent. … What of that? Quick. Well, THEREBY HANGS A TALE … we had an hour’s talk of that wart. Ibid. (1600), Much Ado about Nothing, iv. 2. 33. ’Fore God, they ARE both IN A TALE. Ibid. (1602), Twelfth Night, ii. 1. Mine eyes will TELL TALES of me. Ibid., Winter’s Tale.
1621. BURTON, The Anatomy of Melancholy, III. II. ii. 4. Whether this be a true story or a TALE, I will not much contend.
1625–30. The Court and Times of Charles the First, II. 65. We have some news … I must not TELL TALES FORTH OF SCHOOL.
1633. FORD, ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore, i. 3.
| I find all these but dreams, and OLD MEN’S TALES, | |
| To fright unsteady youth. |
1729. SWIFT, Directions to Servants, ‘General.’ The only remedy is to bribe them with goody goodies, that they may not TELL TALES to papa and mamma.
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 378. If ever I find that you TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL I will give you such a basting as you never had in your life.
