How do you use "Cock and bull story" in a sentence?

Don't give me some cock and bull story. His excuse was a complete cock and bull story. I'm not buying that cock and bull story.

Cock and bull story

Q: What does "Cock and bull story" mean?

An unbelievable or far-fetched tale; a lie. A 'cock and bull story' is an implausible, convoluted tale—typically an excuse or explanation that's obviously fabricated.

Slang Term British ★★★☆☆ Moderate Casual

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Meaning: An unbelievable or far-fetched tale; a lie.

难以置信的故事；胡编乱造的话；谎言。

Un cuento increíble o inverosímil; una mentira.

信じがたい話。でっち上げ。嘘。

믿기 어려운 이야기. 지어낸 말. 거짓말.

A 'cock and bull story' is an implausible, convoluted tale—typically an excuse or explanation that's obviously fabricated.

'cock and bull story（公鸡和公牛的故事）'是一个不可信的、牵强附会的故事——通常是一个明显编造的借口或解释。

Un 'cock and bull story' (cuento del gallo y el toro) es un relato inverosímil y enrevesado, normalmente una excusa o explicación que es claramente inventada.

「cock and bull story（雄鶏と雄牛の話）」はあり得ない、こじつけの話——たいていは明らかに作り話の言い訳や説明です。

'Cock and bull story'는 그럴듯하지 않고 복잡하게 꾸며낸 이야기로, 보통 명백히 지어낸 변명이나 해명을 가리킵니다.

Examples

Don't give me some cock and bull story.
别跟我编故事。
No me vengas con cuentos chinos.
でたらめな話をするな。
허무맹랑한 이야기 하지 마.
His excuse was a complete cock and bull story.
他的借口完全是胡编乱造。
Su excusa era un cuento chino de principio a fin.
彼の言い訳は完全にでっち上げだった。
그의 변명은 완전히 지어낸 이야기였다.
I'm not buying that cock and bull story.
我不信那套鬼话。
No me trago ese cuento chino.
そんなでたらめな話は信じないぞ。
그런 허무맹랑한 이야기는 안 믿어.

Pronunciation

/kɒk ən bʊl ˈstɔːri/

Usage Guide

Context: lies, excuses, disbelief

Tone: dismissive, suspicious

✓ Do Say

Cock and bull story
胡编乱造的故事
cuento chino
でたらめ話
허무맹랑한 이야기
A cock and bull story
鬼话连篇
un cuento chino
でっち上げ話
터무니없는 이야기

Common Mistakes

British expression, less common elsewhere

Origin & History

Possibly from two coaching inns in Stony Stratford—The Cock and The Bull—where travellers exchanged exaggerated tales. Or from the absurdity of animals talking. The exact origin is itself uncertain.

Etymology: Possibly from Stony Stratford pubs, or absurd animal stories

First recorded: 17th century

Cultural Context

Era: 17th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Stony Stratford pubs; Tristram Shandy

Regional notes: British expression.

Story & Trivia

The Cock and Bull pubs still exist in Stony Stratford. Travellers allegedly told such tall tales between these coaching stops that their exaggerations gave us this phrase—though this etymology may itself be a cock and bull story.

Variations

Cock and bull storyA cock and bull story