这个短语不能直接按照字面意思理解，真正的含义是“荒诞的故事；无稽之谈；无伤大雅的谎言”。
例句1：He couldn't pay his debt, instead he told a cock and bull story about having been robbed.
他还不上债，就撒了个弥天大谎说他遭劫了。
例句2：Tom arrived late and told us some cock and bull story about his train catching fire.
汤姆迟到了，却对我们胡说八道说他乘坐的火车着火了。