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skysidhe · 03-26-2008, 01:26 PM

The meaning and Origin of the 'cock and bull'

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/c...l%20story.html

The first citation in English is from Robert Burton's The anatomy of melancholy, 1621:

"Some mens whole delight is to talk of a Cock and Bull over a pot."

Coaches between London and Birmingham changed horses in the town at two of the main coaching inns - the Cock and the Bull. The banter of the rival groups of travellers, from England's two largest cities, resulted in exaggerated and fanciful stories. The story is plausible but there's no real evidence to support it, although the two hostelries did, and still do, exist.

03-26-2008, 01:26 PM	#17
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	bullshit phrases The meaning and Origin of the 'cock and bull' http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/c...l%20story.html The first citation in English is from Robert Burton's The anatomy of melancholy, 1621: "Some mens whole delight is to talk of a Cock and Bull over a pot." Coaches between London and Birmingham changed horses in the town at two of the main coaching inns - the Cock and the Bull. The banter of the rival groups of travellers, from England's two largest cities, resulted in exaggerated and fanciful stories. The story is plausible but there's no real evidence to support it, although the two hostelries did, and still do, exist.