true story

true story — idiom

1. a description of events that actually happened in real life, not a made-up tale

1.慣用語A2
釋義

a description of events that actually happened in real life, not a made-up tale

例句

Trang's grandmother told her a true story about surviving a typhoon as a child.

possessive: [person]'s true story about [event]

The film about a lost dog in Tokyo is based on a true story.

passive: be based on a true story

同義詞
  • real-life account

    more formal; often used in journalism or publishing

  • non-fiction story

    specifically describes written or published works, not conversational anecdotes

  • actual events

    focuses on the happenings rather than the narrative; not a direct synonym for 'story'

反義詞
  • made-up story

    informal; contrasts with a factual account

  • fiction

    broader term for invented narratives, applies to books and films

用法筆記

Frequently used to introduce or describe non-fiction books, films, and personal accounts; often follows the verb 'based on' in passive constructions.

常見錯誤

This is a true story book.
This is a true story.' or 'This is a non-fiction book.
💡'true story' already refers to the account itself, not a category label.