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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Aw, it's just a story #187423 10/25/2009 2:06 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky This afternoon, one of the members of the book club I'm in brought up the phrase 'cock and bull story'. He said the phrase originated in England, where two pubs were close enough together that the same patrons would go to both, and typical "fish tales" were told. One was called the Cock and the other, the Bull. Does anybody have any reliable info. on this origin? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Aw, it's just a story Jackie #187424 10/25/2009 2:25 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Apparently not. Michael Quinion pooh-poohs the neighboring pub story but has nothing to offer in its place. Dave Wilton is silent on the matter. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Aw, it's just a story Faldage #187432 10/25/2009 8:27 PM Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 956 Auckland, New Zealand olly old hand olly old hand Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 956 Auckland, New Zealand Found this on 'The Straight Dope' The more likely explanation, Word Detective ventures, is that the expression refers to old fables featuring talking animals, a notion that the French "cock to donkey" tends to corroborate. We've seen similar usages arise in our own time, leading me to think Word Detective has it right and that alternative theories are not just cock and bull stories but--dare I say it?--mickey mouse. The Cock and Bull is a popular franchise of pubs down here where you can grab a steak and a pint o dark for lunch or dinner. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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