cautionary tale

[kaw-shuh-ner-ee teyl] / ˈkɔ ʃəˌnɛr i ˈteɪl /

NOUN

piece of advice

Synonyms

WEAK

a few words of wisdom admonition advisory caution light caveat deterrent example enough said event illustrating a hazard forewarning hint lesson message moral omen portent red flag sign of things to come wake-up call warning word to the wise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Just this August in Biloxi, Mississippi, I presented to the National Association of Secretaries of State what I call the cautionary tale about documented proof of citizenship for voting, and I talked about integration of data systems that weren’t designed for these specific things.

From Salon

This is a different FA to 16 years ago and there is no suggestion Tuchel's new contract is anything other than a union of two parties delirously happy with each other, but there is certainly currency in the argument that the Capello affair must act as a cautionary tale.

From BBC

The so-called ecocide narrative argues that deforestation led to conflict and population decline before Europeans arrived in the 18th century, turning the island into a cautionary tale about overconsumption.

From Science Daily

The Reko Diq mine has long been a cautionary tale on the difficulty of extracting Balochistan’s riches.

From The Wall Street Journal

She tells the BBC it's a cautionary tale.

From BBC