myth
widely believed but false idea
An idea that many people think is true, but it is not true.
the myth that [clause]
- The book aims to debunk the myth that success always comes from talent alone.
- There is a persistent myth that drinking coffee will stunt your growth.
- Politicians sometimes use simple stories to create the myth of an easy solution.
- The study challenges the myth that older workers are less productive.
- Media coverage has helped to shatter the myth that mental illness is rare.
- Many people believe the myth that cold weather gives you a cold.
- Teachers tried to correct the myth that girls are bad at math.
- This article breaks the myth that eating late at night always makes you fat.
- It is a myth that all rich people are happy.
- The video explains why the myth is not true.
traditional story about gods
An old traditional story, usually with gods or magic, that explains how the world or a custom began.
[adjective] myth about [something]
- According to the Greek myth, Prometheus stole fire from the gods.
- Many cultures have a flood myth that explains the reshaping of the world.
- In the myth, the trickster god creates both order and chaos.
- Children learn local myths and legends at school to understand their cultural roots.
- The novel reimagines an old creation myth in a modern city setting.
- In the old myth, the sun is a god.
- Every culture has a myth about how the world started.
- We read a Native American myth in class today.
- The myth tells the story of a hero who fights a dragon.
- This film is based on a Japanese myth.
all myths of a culture
All the old traditional stories from one culture or group, thought of together.
in [culture] myth, [clause]
- In Greek myth, Hermes serves as the messenger of the gods.
- The film freely mixes characters from Norse myth with modern superheroes.
- National myth often shapes how a country tells the story of its own past.
- The essay examines the founding myth of the American frontier.
- In Celtic myth, the boundary between the human world and the spirit world is thin.
- In Greek myth, Zeus is the king of the gods.
- We studied animals in Aboriginal myth at school.
- This TV show uses stories from Norse myth.
- Many countries have a national myth about brave leaders.
- In local myth, the mountain is home to spirits.
person or thing of legend-like status
A person or thing that many people talk about, but seems almost not real because it is so special or rarely seen.
[someone] is a myth
- For many fans, the reclusive writer is a myth; few people have ever seen him in public.
- By the time she retired, the athlete was a myth in her sport.
- The hacker became a myth on online forums, with people doubting that he even existed.
- In tech circles, the original inventor is almost a myth.
- The singer's early death turned him into a myth for later generations.
- The old singer is a myth to young people today.
- No one at the company has met the founder; he is like a myth.
- For us, that famous player is a myth.
- The secret group is a myth on the internet.
- After many years, the pilot became a myth in the town.
- Base: myth
- Plural: myth, myths
bust a myth
1informally prove a myth false
To show in a simple or fun way that a popular idea is not true.
- The show sets out to bust myths using real experiments.
- In this video, we bust three fitness myths in ten minutes.
- Teachers asked students to test and bust common science myths.
debunk a myth
1prove a popular belief false
To show clearly that a popular idea is not true.
- The documentary tries to debunk the myth that vaccines are unsafe.
- Scientists have debunked the myth that we only use ten percent of our brains.
- This article debunks common myths about healthy eating.
myth and legend
1traditional stories of gods and heroes
Old traditional stories about gods and very strong or brave people, thought of together.
- The book is a collection of myth and legend from around the world.
- We spent the evening telling tales of myth and legend by the fire.
- The landscape is rich in local myth and legend.
shatter the myth
1completely destroy belief in a myth
To completely break people's belief in a popular idea that is not true.
- The report shatters the myth that the company treats all workers fairly.
- Her story shatters the myth of the perfect family.
- The results of the study shattered the myth that older people cannot learn new skills.
urban myth
1widely told false modern story
A story about something in modern life that many people tell and believe, but which is not true.
- The idea that gangs drive around with their headlights off as a test is just an urban myth.
- You've probably heard the urban myth about alligators living in the sewers.
- Researchers say the story of poisoned Halloween candy is mostly an urban myth.