Meaning & Analysis
The phrase refers to stories, superstitions, or pieces of advice passed down by older women, which are generally considered to be foolish, untrue, or unscientific.
Insights
Discredited Knowledge
The phrase serves as a metaphor for any belief, rumor, or piece of information that is considered baseless, unscientific, or rooted in superstition rather than empirical evidence.
Gendered Dismissal
It metaphorically represents the dismissal of knowledge systems associated with women—such as domestic wisdom, folklore, and oral traditions—as inherently inferior to formal, male-dominated fields of knowledge.
Unverified Information
The term functions as a pejorative label for any unverified information or gossip that spreads through informal channels, warning against credulity and the acceptance of unsubstantiated claims.
Historical Devaluation of Knowledge
The phrase reflects a historical power dynamic where knowledge held and transmitted by women, particularly within domestic spheres (the 'chimney corner'), was systematically devalued and contrasted with formal, male-dominated 'History' or 'sounde and true thynges'.
Psychological Bias
The term functions as a cognitive shortcut, allowing a listener to dismiss information based on its association with a stereotyped source (the 'old wife') rather than engaging with the content itself, revealing a bias against informal and oral traditions.
Feminist Re-appropriation
From a modern perspective, particularly through a feminist lens, the phrase is being re-evaluated. It highlights the often valuable folk wisdom—herbal remedies, agricultural practices, and childcare—that was preserved and passed down by women, despite being dismissed by patriarchal institutions.
Rhetorical Devices
Cultural Stereotype
The phrase's impact relies on a deeply ingrained social stereotype of the 'old wife' as a garrulous and unreliable source of information, making it a powerful tool of dismissal.
Pejorative Language
The term itself is a form of pejorative labeling, used to discredit an idea by attacking its perceived source rather than its substance.
Alliteration
The alliteration of the 'w' sound in 'Old Wives'' contributes to the phrase's rhythmic and memorable quality, enhancing its durability as a common expression.
Transcription
Quotations
A fole he is for his moste felycyte Is to byleue the tales of an olde wyse.
They bryng forth old wyues fables for sounde and true thynges.
Old wiues foolyshe tales of Robyn Hoode.
Thinking euery olde wiues tale to be a truth.
Children delight in nothing more then to heare old wiues tales.
Flimflam tales, old wiues fables.
Those be old Wiues Tales.
Old wives tales over a cup of Ale, as they say in England, In the chimney corner.
Who will . . tax up an old-wife's fable to the punctuality of History.
Popery . . is visibly founded upon interest and practice and old wives tales.
Cross References
- See OTTO, no. 121.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.