cautionary tale

American  

[kaw-shuh-ner-ee teyl] / ˈkɔ ʃəˌnɛr i ˈteɪl /

noun

1. a story, experience, or situation that serves as a warning to others.

   The malware's devastating effect on her files became a cautionary tale about the importance of antivirus software.

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Etymology

Origin of cautionary tale

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

But Nvidia also provides a cautionary tale for Micron shareholders.

From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026

One fund offers a cautionary tale: four years and counting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026

Nobody expects “House of the Dragon” to be an educational exercise, or even an overt cautionary tale, any more than “Game of Thrones” was intended to be.

From Salon • Jun. 21, 2026

The film is, he said, is "another parable of parental crisis dressed up as a brightly coloured family adventure" - and a "cautionary tale about online childhoods".

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

Though she knew it was meant to be a cautionary tale, now that she had seen that fairy, she thought that Kathleen’s fate was not so cruel after all.

From "Ash" by Malinda Lo