cock-and-bull story
A far-fetched and fanciful story or tale of highly dubious validity.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Don't believe his cock-and-bull story about meeting a famous actor.”
“He invents a cock-and-bull story every time he loses his homework.”
“She told us some cock-and-bull story about why she was late, but nobody believed her.”
“The salesman tried to sell me an expensive insurance plan with a cock-and-bull story about a secret law that requires every homeowner to buy it.”
“The old sailor entertained the tavern with a cock-and-bull story of sea monsters and buried treasure, though his listeners knew every word was invented.”
Unknown. The phrase is noted as similar in meaning and form to French coq-à-l'âne (“satire, incoherent story”, literally “cock to the ass”) which was borrowed into Scots as cockalane. theories of origin Theories of the term's ultimate origin include allusions to stories which feature talking animals and that the term refers to gossip typical of what were historically two coaching inns, The Cock and The Bull, in Stony Stratford, England.
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Banbury story of a cock and a bull
A roundabout, nonsensical story.
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break the story
To be the first to address or publicize an issue, often a news story.
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change one's story
To give an account of events different from the one previously recounted.
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long story short
Introducing a short version of, or simply the conclusion of, a relevant story.
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moral of the story
The key lesson or message that an incident, situation or other happening conveys; a general takeaway point.
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same old story
What usually happens; an occurrence that is tediously familiar.
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scare story
A rumour spread by a scaremonger in order to cause anxiety.
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sob story
A sad story, especially one intended to elicit sympathy.
Last updated August 10, 2026