mythe urbain

French - English

Definition of mythe urbain in French English dictionary

{n} urban legend

A widely circulated story that is untrue or apocryphal, often having elements of humour or horror

The claim that alligators live in New York City's sewers is an old urban legend.

A story, that may have started with some truth, that has been embellished and retold until it has become a myth

non-true or partially true story or fact that is based on word of mouth which circulates widely and becomes a part of popular mythology (numerous urban legends are generated on the Internet and few are told again and again)

A story, which may have started with a grain of truth, that has been embroidered and retold until it has passed into the realm of myth Is is an interesting phenomenon that these stories become spread so far, so fast and so often

A story, which may at one time have been true, that has grown from constant retelling into a mythical yarn

A story, which may have started with a grain of truth, that has been embroidered and retold until it has passed into the realm of myth Some legends that periodically make their rounds include "The Infamous Modem Tax," "Craig Shergold/Brain Tumor/Get Well Cards," and "The $250 Cookie Recipe "

An oft-told tale on the Internet that is untrue, but refuses to die They keep reappearing in newsgroups, e-mail discussion lists, and message bases The stories themselves are interesting and when newcomers read them for the first time, they are often passed along as fact They may have been once true as in the Craig Shergold get-well card story, a hoax like the GOOD TIMES VIRUS, or a joke, like the expensive Neiman-Marcus cookie recipe They often appear with variations, so that get-well cards become business cards, or Neiman-Marcus becomes Mrs Fields instead Read more about these in our accompanying feature on Urban Legends

a story, which may at one time have been true, that has become exaggerated from constant retelling into a mythical yarn

An apocryphal story involving incidents of the recent past, often including elements of humor and horror, that spreads quickly and is popularly believed to be true

A story, which may have started with a grain of truth, that has been embroidered and retold until it has passed into the realm of myth It is an interesting phenonmenon that these stories get spread so far, so fast and so often Urban legends never die, they just end up on the Internet! Some legends that periodically make their rounds include "The Infamous Modem Tax," "Craig Shergold/Brain Tumor/Get Well Cards," and "The $250 Cookie Recipe" [Source: LAQUEY]