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Cock-and-bull story   /kɑk-ənd-bʊl stˈɔri/   Listen
Cock-and-bull story

noun
1.
An interesting but highly implausible story; often told as an excuse.  Synonyms: fairy story, fairy tale, fairytale, song and dance.






WordNet 3.0 © 2010 Princeton University








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"Cock-and-bull story" Quotes from Famous Books



... II., 350.—Cf. Causeries du Lundi," II., 164. Saint-Beuve's comment on the examination. "Andre Chenier, natife de Constantinoble....son frere vice-consulte en Espagne. "Remark the questions on his health and correspondence and the cock-and-bull story about the 'maison a cotte.' "—They ask him where his servant was on the 10th of August, 1792, and he replies that he could not tell. "A lui represente qua lepoque de cette journee que touts les bons citoyent ny gnoroit point ...
— The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 4 (of 6) - The French Revolution, Volume 3 (of 3) • Hippolyte A. Taine

... laughed heartily. "This is the third time you have given me the same cock-and-bull story. Didn't you make a similar request last summer, and the year before that? At the last moment, ...
— Autobiography of a YOGI • Paramhansa Yogananda

... daughter, your cousin, should never know her father's sad history. But for you she never would have known it! And—that is a plain answer to what you have had to allege against me. Now, sir, let me ask you a plain question. Who invented this cock-and-bull story? You don't reply—readily? Shall I assist you by a suggestion? Was it that man who sits by you—Burchill? For Burchill knows that he has lied vilely and shamelessly this morning—Burchill knows that he did see Jacob Herapath sign that will—Burchill knows that that will was duly ...
— The Herapath Property • J. S. Fletcher

... been told to him, and went out of doors, half expecting possibly to see something floating on the surface. "I was detained out last night on an errand," explained he to some three or four stragglers who had gathered round him, "and when I got in, my old mother told me a cock-and-bull story of a cry and a splash, as if somebody had fallen into the river. It don't look much like ...
— The Channings • Mrs. Henry Wood

... home to me with a cock-and-bull story of a witch lady, who appeared suddenly where none had been a moment before, and who had immediately enchanted my lord Earl. Well nigh did I twist his neck, but he stuck to it. Then came riding by my lord Abbot on his way to Thrieve, and I judged that the ...
— The Black Douglas • S. R. Crockett



Words linked to "Cock-and-bull story" :   song and dance, fairy story, taradiddle, tale, story, fairy tale, tarradiddle, fib



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