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to live to tell the tale
01
to survive a danger or difficulty and be able to tell others about it
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "live to tell the tale" and when to use it?
The idiom "live to tell the tale" originates from the idea of surviving a dangerous or life-threatening situation and being able to recount the experience. It is used to emphasize one's survival in the face of adversity, often traumatic or perilous events, with the implication that the ordeal was challenging or harrowing but ultimately surmountable.
Examples
Despite the harrowing plane crash, all the passengers survived and lived to tell the tale.
After a vicious encounter with a wild animal, the hiker was relieved to live to tell the tale.
