A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

A TALE never loses in the telling

Also used in the phrase to lose (or grow) in the telling, often implying exaggeration. 1541
Schoolhouse of Women A4V What soeuer commeth to memorye Shall not be loste, for the
tellinge. 1581 Stationers’Register (1875) II. 388 A good tale Cannot to [o] often be Tolde.

1609 S. HARWARD MS (Trinity College, Cambridge) 121 Tales lose nothing by the

cariadge. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 44 A Tale never loses in the telling. Fame or

Report.. commonly receives an Addition as it goes from hand to Hand. 1907 Spectator 16

Nov. 773 A story never loses in the telling in the mouth of an Egyptian. 1954 L. P.

HARTLEY White Wand 15 No doubt Antonio was telling the story to his fellow-

gondoliers and it would lose nothing in the telling. 1979 M. STEWART Last

Enchantment 19 Like all strange tales, it will grow with the telling. rumour

tale see also DEAD men tell no tales.

Never tell TALES out of school

The phrase to tell tales out of school is also used.

1530 W. TYNDALE Practice of Prelates B1V So that what cometh once in may

never out for feare of tellinge tales out of scole. 1616 J. WITHALS Dict. (rev. ed.) 573

You must not tel tales out of the Tauerne. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 303 Tell no

School Tales. Do not blab abroad what is said in drink, or among Companions. 1876 I.

BANKS Manchester Man I. xv. All attempts to make known school troubles and

grievances were met with ‘Never tell tales out of school’. 1963 A. CHRISTIE Clocks

xxiv. ‘Well—.’.. ‘I understand. Mustn’t tell tales out of school.’ malice

TALK is cheap

Cf. c 1600 A. MUNDAY et al. Sir T. More (1911) 23 Woords are but wordes, and payes
not what men owe; 1639 CHAPMAN & SHIRLEY Ball v. i. You may heare talke; but give me
the man That has measur’d ’em: talkes but talke.

1668 R. B. Adagia Scotica 47 Seying goes good cheap. 1843 T. C. HALIBURTON

Attache I. ii. Talk is cheap, it don’t cost nothin’ but breath. 1929 K. C. STRAHAN