We listened to his familiar 'tale of woe/misfortune' as he talked again about the failure of his marriage.
They sat around the campfire telling 'tall tales' about their hunting adventures.
Their marriage is a real-life 'fairy tale'. [=they have a very happy marriage]
(..) That she should lock herself from his society, admit no messengers, receive no tokens Which done, she took the fruits of my advise and he, repulsed, a short tale to make... ...fell into a sadness, thence into a weakness, thence into the madness wherein now he raves - Do you think 'tis this? (..)2015 Hamlet
(..) ...till the foul crimes done in my days of nature are burnt and purged away But that I am forbid to tell the secrets of my prison house, I could a tale unfold... ...whose lightest word would harrow up thy soul and freeze thy noble veins But this eternal blazon must not be to ears of flesh and blood (..)2015 Hamlet