“tall tale ”

        Even in the remotest hinterlands, mountain paths teem with families making the long but joyful trek home, possession slung over parents' shoulders, laughing children skipping in anticipation of grandma's cooking or grandpa's tall tale.

　　即使在 偏远的地区，山道上也挤满了各家各户的人，兴高采烈地朝家里跋涉。家长们的肩头扛着年货，孩子们不住地雀跃嬉笑，急不可待地盼着吃奶奶烧的菜和听爷爷编的故事。

　　因为故事都是想象出来的，有些甚至荒诞不羁，所以叫tall tale，实在与“高”无关。tale这个词看似虽小，却容易迷惑人。

　　如：The wicked little girl was always telling her mother tales.这句话并非说小女孩总给她妈妈讲故事，而是总爱撒谎。

　　再如：It was nasty of you to go round telling tales you knew weren't true.你故意到处散布谣言，真可恶。

　　而tale bearer或tale teller就是指吹牛皮，说大话的人。