Cock and Bull Story

An unbelievable tale.

Stony Stratford was an important stopping-off point for mail and passenger coaches travelling between London and the North of England. This coaching history is the source of the supposed origin of the phrase 'cock and bull story'. The Cock and the Bull were two of the main coaching inns in the town and the banter and rivalry between groups of travellers is said to have resulted in exaggerated and fanciful stories, which became known as 'cock and bull stories'. The two hostelries did, and still do, exist.

Ex: Well that is a cock and bull story if ever I’ve heard one!

Spanish: cuento chino

German: Lügengeschichte