A: Have you noticed that Mary often comes to the office late?

B: Yes, she comes in late most mornings, and thereby hangs a tale. She has a drinking problem.

Note: The saying implies “there is an interesting story associated with that; there is more to say or explain about that.” This punning expression (“tale” and “tail”) was not original with Shakespeare, but he used it in at least four plays (“The Taming of the Shrew,” “As You Like It,” “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” and “Othello”), helping it to become a cliché.