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

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

"I hope I'll be a cautionary tale to someone who's in my position to make better choices."

From BBC • May 27, 2026

“It’s a classic cautionary tale about this sort of ballot-box legislation,” said Michael Manville, a professor of urban planning at the University of California, Los Angeles.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

I think maybe I’m missing some kind of self-preservation alarm in my head because this has cautionary tale written all over it.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy