Meaning: acatalectic

n.
(prosody) a line of verse that has the full number of syllables
adj.
(verse) metrically complete; especially having the full number of syllables in the final metrical foot

spin a yarn tale Idiom, Proverb

hidden talent

a talent or skill you do not show very often Oh, you play the harmonica! Got any more hidden talents?

old wives' tale

a myth, an old story that contains little truth One old wives' tale says that goose fat will cure a cold.

reach a stalemate

arrive at a position where no progress is made The talks to buy the materials for the new computer labs reached a stalemate and it will be difficult to get them started again.

tall tale

a story that is partly true, an exaggerated story Fishermen love to tell tall tales. They lie a little, eh.

tell tales out of school

Idiom(s): tell tales out of school

Theme: GOSSIP

to tell secrets or spread rumors.
• I wish that John would keep quiet. He's telling tales out of school again.
• If you tell tales out of school a lot, people won't know when to believe you.

tell its own tale

Idiom(s): tell its own story AND tell its own tale

Theme: REVELATION

[for the state of something] to indicate clearly what has happened.
• The upturned boat told its own tale. The fisherman had drowned.
• The girl's tear-stained face told its own story.

Dead men tell no tales

A dead person cannot cause difficulties by revealing something that it would be preferable to conceal.

Old wive's tale

A proverb or piece of advice that is commonly accepted as truth and is handed down the generations, but is normally false.

Tale of the tape

This idiom is used when comparing things, especially in sports; it comes from boxing where the fighters would be measured with a tape measure before a fight.

fairy tale|fairy|fairy story|story|tale

n. An inaccurate, even false account of something; a result of wishful thinking. Jeff said he was going to be promoted soon, but we all suspect that it is only one of his customary fairy tales.

More Idioms/Phrases