tall tale
A tale or story which is fantastic and greatly exaggerated; also, an account of questionable veracity; a lie, an untruth.
He returned on Monday with a tall tale about a 100-pound fish he had caught.
tale
UK /ˈteːl/ US /ˈteːl/
noun 6verb 2
Definitions
noun
1
A rehearsal of what has occurred; narrative; discourse; statement; history; story.
the Canterbury Tales
And every shepherd tells his tale Under the hawthorn in the dale.
2
A number told or counted off; a reckoning by count; an enumeration.
the ignorant, […] who measure by tale, and not by weight
In packing, they keep a just tale of the number that every hogshead containeth ...
3
The fraudulent opportunity presented by a confidence man to the mark or victim.
4
An account of an asserted fact or circumstance; a rumour; a report, especially an idle or malicious story; a piece of gossip or slander; a lie.
Don't tell tales!
“A very welcome, kind, useful present, that means to the parish. By the way, Hopkins, let this go no further. We don't want the tale running round that a rich person has arrived. Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks, and wolves in lamb's clothing.[…]”
5
Number; tally; quota.
And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
Both number twice a day the milky dams And once she takes the tale of all the lambs.
verb
1
To speak; discourse; tell tales.
2
To reckon; consider (someone) to have something.
noun
1
Alternative form of tael.
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