cock-and-bull story

cock-and-bull story
noun
an interesting but highly implausible story; often told as an excuse
• Hypernyms: ↑fib, ↑story, ↑tale, ↑tarradiddle, ↑taradiddle

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\\ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷-\ noun
Etymology: perhaps so called from the legendary sexual prowess of cocks and bulls
: a fabricated tale passed off as true especially in self-glorification

cock-and-bull stories about the big jobs he had held

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/kok"euhn bool"/
an absurd, improbable story presented as the truth: Don't ask him about his ancestry unless you want to hear a cock-and-bull story.
[1600-10; prob. with orig. reference to some fable in which a cock and bull figure]

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cock-and-bull story «KOK uhn BUL»,
an absurd, incredible sto (from an old fable with two incredible characters, a cock and a bull).

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/ˈkɑːkənˈbʊl-/ noun, pl ⋯ stories [count]
informal : a ridiculous story that is is used as an explanation or excuse

Do you think I'm going to fall for that cock-and-bull story?


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?
Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cock and bull story — UK US noun [countable] [singular cock and bull story plural cock and bull stories] informal a story that is silly and difficult to believe Thesaurus: types of story or play …   Useful english dictionary

  • cock-and-bull story — {n. phr.} An exaggerated or unbelievable story. * / Stop feeding me such cock and bull stories, the detective said to the suspect./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • cock-and-bull story — {n. phr.} An exaggerated or unbelievable story. * / Stop feeding me such cock and bull stories, the detective said to the suspect./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Cock and bull story — Cock Cock (k[o^]k), n. [AS. coc; of unknown origin, perh. in imitation of the cry of the cock. Cf. {Chicken}.] 1. The male of birds, particularly of gallinaceous or domestic fowls. [1913 Webster] 2. A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cock-and-bull story — cock and bull stories N COUNT If you describe something that someone tells you as a cock and bull story, you mean that you do not believe it is true. [INFORMAL] Was it him who made you come to us with this cock and bull story? …   English dictionary

  • cock and bull story — A cock and bull story is a lie someone tells that is completely unbelievable …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • cock-and-bull story — [käk′ən bool′] n. [for earlier cockalane < Fr ( saillir du) coq en l âne, lit., (to jump from) the cock to the donkey] an absurd, improbable story …   English World dictionary

  • cock-and-bull story — cock and bull ,story noun count a story that is very silly and difficult to believe …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • cock and bull story — ► NOUN informal ▪ a ridiculous and implausible story …   English terms dictionary

  • cock and bull story — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms cock and bull story : singular cock and bull story plural cock and bull stories informal a story that is silly and difficult to believe …   English dictionary

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