Don't give me that cock-and-bull story.
•I asked for an explanation, and all I got was your ridiculous cock-and-bull story!
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
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 — 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 — noun an interesting but highly implausible story; often told as an excuse • Syn: ↑fairytale, ↑fairy tale, ↑fairy story, ↑song and dance • Hypernyms: ↑fib, ↑story, ↑tale, ↑ … Useful english 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
