tale
noun [ C ] uk/teɪl/ us/teɪl/
B2 （尤指包含离奇内容的）故事，不实之词
a story, especially one that might be invented or difficult to believe
He told some fascinating tales about his life in India. 他讲了他在印度生活的一些奇闻轶事。
She told me/invented/concocted a tale about missing the bus to explain her lateness. 为了解释迟到的原因，她向我讲了／编造了一通没赶上公共汽车的鬼话。
Idiom
tale of woeidiom 悲惨的故事，诉苦
a report of the bad things that have happened
I asked how he was and he started telling me this big tale of woe. 我问他过得怎么样，他向我大倒苦水。