live to tell the tale
US /laɪv tə tɛl ðə teɪl/
UK /laɪv tə tɛl ðə teɪl/
1.
to survive a dangerous or difficult experience and be able to describe it afterwards
:
•
After that terrible storm, we were lucky to live to tell the tale.
•
He went through a lot during the war, but he lived to tell the tale.