Dictionary

tale as old as time en · NOUN

Etymology

From the song "Beauty and the Beast" from the 1991 Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast.

Meanings

1. A story, subject, or theme so timeless and ageless that it can be used or retold in any time period.
   • The story of Beauty and the Beast is a tale as old as time.
2. An experience that has always been lived or felt across time.
3. (broadly) A recurring event or concept that continuously repeats throughout history.
4. (excessive) Something which is very old or everlasting.
5. (humorous, informal, often) A common or easily predictable recurring situation or scenario.