what is the meaning of 'you could dine out on that'

[joe.s-b]

I have been told this on ocasions but don't understand it

[factor-fiction]

I've always assumed it meant "People invite you to dinner so they can hear your story"

[sandyRoe]

It's such a good story that you might be invited to dinner so that the host and the other guests could be entertained by you telling it.

[boxtops]

^ what they said

[jomifl]

That simple, really.

[Fitzer]

In the 18th & 19th centuries( and to a lesser extent later) dinner guests were expected to converse and be sociable with their neighbours at table and if you were known to have a fund of amusing or interesting anecdotes then you would be more likely to get invited to lots of dinners hence the expression.

[factor-fiction]

I'd have starved in the 19th century then

[gness]

I always get invited to dinners just after I have been on one of my incident ridden journeys.

[heathfield]

It provided Oscar Wilde with grub!

[tiffanybabe]

something about you is interesting