Thereby hangs a tale

Origin of: Thereby hangs a tale

Thereby hangs a tale

Thereby hangs a tale means, “There is a true or interesting story behind that” and is thought to be a pun on the word tail. Shakespeare uses the expression in three of his plays, As you Like It, Act II, Scene VII, Merry Wives of Windsor, Act I, Scene IV and Taming of the Shrew Act IV, Scene I, indicating that it may have been a well-known expression before he used it. First known usage late 16th/early 17th century.