| 100% | SOB | 3 | ___ story (pitiable tale) |
| 74% | WOE | 3 | Tale of ___ (sob story) |
| 74% | WOE | 3 | Tale of ___ (unhappy story) |
| 74% | WOE | 3 | Tale of ___ (sad story) |
| 74% | WOE | 3 | Tale of ___ (tragic story) |
| 74% | TALL | 4 | ___ tale (unbelievable story) |
| 74% | TALL | 4 | ___ tale (unlikely story) |
| 74% | TALL | 4 | ___ tale (exaggerated story) |
| 72% | TALL | 4 | ___ tale (far-fetched story) |
| 72% | SOB | 3 | ___ story (tear-jerking tale) |
| 72% | SOB | 3 | ___ story (sympathy-inducing tale) |
| 72% | SOB | 3 | ___ story (sad tale) |
| 72% | SOB | 3 | ___ story (tragic tale) |
| 72% | SOB | 3 | ___ story (unfortunate tale) |
| 70% | TALL | 4 | ___ tale (hard-to-believe story) |
| 70% | TALL | 4 | ___ tale (difficult to believe story) |
| 69% | FAIRY | 5 | ___ tale (type of children's story) |
| 68% | SHAGGYDOG | 9 | Long-winded nonsensical tale, __ story |
| 68% | LORE | 4 | Folk tales and old stories |
| 66% | LEGENDS | 7 | Traditional folk stories or mythological tales |
| 65% | MILLER | 6 | Canterbury Tale teller of the second story |
| 63% | WESTSIDE | 8 | __ Story, a tale about two rival gangs in NYC |
| 63% | ITS | 3 | "___ a long story" (warning before a lengthy tale) |
| 61% | MOPPET | 6 | The Story of Miss __, tale of duster-wrapped cat |
| 60% | WEIRD | 5 | ___ Tales, magazine where many H. P. Lovecraft stories first appeared |
| 55% | FAIRY | 5 | __ tale (story like ''Cinderella'') |
| 55% | SOB | 3 | ___ story (tale of woe) |
| 53% | REDGAUNTLET | 11 | 1824 novel by Sir Walter Scott featuring the story Wandering Willie’s Tale |
| 53% | SONOFTHEWOLF | 12 | The —, 1900 story collection by Jack London subtitled Tales of the Far North |