Cock and Bull Story Pad

I enjoy wordplay. Words carry so much within them: the meaning of the words themselves, the sounds they create when spoken and the surprise of unexpected words strung together in an interesting fashion.

Idioms take advantage of words, or perhaps are the advantage of words, creating units of words that are more interesting together than the individual words themselves. There’s such a wealth of idioms, each with their own history and meanings that we use everyday (as well as many we may never utter—or even know exists).

An idiom I never use but think is funny is a “cock and bull story” (which just means a tall tale). Supposedly, this expression may originate from an old folk tale involving a cock and bull, or it could also be the name of an inn where travelers would tell tall tales.

Whatever its origins, I wanted to create something using this amusing idiom. Thus, I took the literal approach, drawing a rooster and bull for the cover of this pad. On the back, I drew silhouettes of the two animals (who are talking) and telling their own cock and bull stories.