Fairy-tale ending

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Grammarist

The term fairy-tale ending has been in use since the mid-1800s. We will examine the meaning of the expression fairy-tale ending, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences.

A fairy-tale ending is a perfect resolution to a story like one found in a fairy tale. A fairy-tale ending is usually simplistic, perfect, and often romantic, ending with the phrase: “And they lived happily ever after.” A fairy tale is a children’s story that often involves imaginary beings and fantastical events. The earliest known use of the expression fairy-tale ending is found in a weekly magazine that was published by Charles Dickens in the 1850s, known as Household Words: “I should not have been sorry to have had the old fairy-tale ending affixed to this true story, ‘And they lived together very happily for ever after’.” Note that fairy-tale ending is properly rendered with one hyphen, though it is often seen without a hyphen.

Examples

Des Randall always thought it would be a “fairy-tale situation” if he got the chance to coach at his alma mater, so the 2006 West Seneca West graduate was thrilled when the head boys basketball job at West became available in August. (The Lancaster Bee News)

So long as every one gets their well-deserved fairy-tale ending, we’re on board. (Brides Magazine)

It wasn’t the fairy-tale ending, however, that Vaske, his teammates, and Norwalk fans had hoped for following a special season where the Warriors went 22-3. (The Des Moines Register)

A fairy-tale ending, especially for Mandel, who says that White Castle was part of his childhood. (The Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Heartbroken Melissa, 57, told The Mirror: “It was going to be our fairy-tale ending.“ (The Sun)