# live to tell the tale

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/live-to-tell-the-tale
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To survive some difficulty, illness, etc.

## Examples

- The storm was scary, but we lived to tell the tale.
- After the long hike through the desert without enough water, we were exhausted but lived to tell the tale.
- Though the company faced a near-total collapse during the financial crisis, the management team navigated the turmoil and lived to tell the tale.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.