cock-and-bull story
Meaning: A story that is too unlikely to be believed.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Animals
Origin: The expression originates from an English fable in which a cock and a bull had an unbelievable conversation. The expression probably originates from the idea of a bird leaving and then returning to its roost, the perch on which a bird rests. It is usually used to refer to something bad happening to someone who has demonstrated some bad behavior in the past.
More idioms — Animals
- cook someone's goose — To ruin someone's plans.
- crocodile tears — False, exaggerated tears.
- cry wolf — To raise a false alarm or exaggerate so often that one is no longer believed.
- dark horse — A competitor who is little-known by most people but who is expected to win by someone mor…
- dog-eared — Well-worn.
- dog-eat-dog — Ruthless, competitive, and fast-paced.
More English idioms
- dog days of summer — Very hot days.
- eat crow pie — To humble oneself because one has been proved wrong.
- fat cat — A rich but usually lazy person.
- fine kettle of fish — A terrible mess.
- fly-by-night — Undependable; untrustworthy.
- fly in the face of something — To go against something; to show disrespect for something or someone.
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