tale 
/ˈteɪl/ noun
plural tales /ˈteɪl/ noun [count] 1 : a story about imaginary events : an exciting or dramatic story
▪ The movie is a stirring tale of courage. ▪ tales about ghosts — see also fairy tale, folktale 2 a : a story about someone's actual experiences
▪ We listened to his familiar tale of woe/misfortune as he talked again about the failure of his marriage.
b : an exciting story that may not be completely true
▪ He told us thrilling tales about his adventures as a pilot in the war. — see also tall tale 3 : a false story that is told to deceive someone
▪ Are you telling tales again? Or is that the truth?
▪ The movie is a stirring tale of courage. ▪ tales about ghosts — see also fairy tale, folktale
▪ We listened to his familiar tale of woe/misfortune as he talked again about the failure of his marriage.
b : an exciting story that may not be completely true
▪ He told us thrilling tales about his adventures as a pilot in the war. — see also tall tale
▪ Are you telling tales again? Or is that the truth?
dead men tell no tales
— used to say that someone who has been killed cannot reveal secret information
thereby hangs a tale — see 1hang
— see also old wives' tale
