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

Spirit’s collapse is a cautionary tale for people who hoard company loyalty points, said Katy Nastro, a travel expert at the travel site Going.

From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026

Eberle now uses the memory as a cautionary tale for clients who insist on complicated schedules because they can’t imagine going days without seeing their children.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

In Mann’s eyes, the South African government’s disastrous bid for absolute political power is a cautionary tale with particular resonance today.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant open their book User Friendly with the cautionary tale of the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

With this cautionary tale in mind, let us begin by asking a question which seems too obvious to need asking but is in fact an essential preliminary: What is a machine?

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton