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Glite Dictionary
to throw the bull around

to throw the bull around

9.9
Talk in a relaxed, joking way and make stories bigger to be funny
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : charlar
  • We sat by the fire, just throwing the bull around and reminiscing about old times.

Examples

  • Whenever the family gathers, there's always someone ready to throw the bull around and make everyone laugh.

  • Stop throwing the bull around!

  • On Friday nights, they love to throw the bull around after work.

  • Did you see them throw the bull around at the party?

  • On Friday nights, they love to throw the bull around after work.

  • We sat by the fire, just throwing the bull around and reminiscing about old times.

  • Whenever the family gathers, there's always someone ready to throw the bull around and make everyone laugh.

Synonyms

to joke around
vsto throw the bull around
  • Informal
40 2.4

To say funny things and behave in a playful way to make people laugh

is often more about exaggerated storytelling in friendly social situations
to chew the fat
vsto throw the bull around
  • Informal
3 7.9

Talk in a friendly, relaxed way for a long time

is more about exaggerated storytelling rather than simple casual chat
to shoot the bull
vsto throw the bull around
  • US
2 8.1

To chat in a relaxed way about everyday things

is more about telling exaggerated stories in informal social settings
to spout bullpoo
vsto throw the bull around
  • Slang
9.9

Talk for a long time saying things that are not true or silly

is more about playful social storytelling rather than deliberate falsehood
to talking bullspit
vsto throw the bull around
  • Offensive
9.9

To say nonsense or unimportant things to avoid giving a clear answer

is more social and relaxed talk, not focused on evasion or lies

Antonyms

real talk
  • Slang
9 7.7

An honest serious conversation about difficult or important things

How Exaggerated

to boast
96 3.1
to throw the bull around
  • Informal
9.9
to chat
  • Informal
269 1.0
to chit-chat
  • Informal
5 4.1

Surface Forms

throw the bull around infinitive
throwing the bull around present participle
throws the bull around third person singular
threw the bull around past
thrown the bull around past participle

Morphology

throw + the + bull + around

If a learner knows 'bull' as slang for 'nonsense' and understands literal 'throw' + 'around' constructions, they can partly infer that the phrase means exchanging or tossing about false/exaggerated talk; the parts give a plausible image. However, 'bull' in this sense is colloquial/slang and the specific idiomatic use of the whole clause (meaning casual, exaggerated storytelling) is language-specific and may not be immediately predictable to a B1 learner without exposure.

Etymology

Throw the bull around comes from an old use of bull to mean 'nonsense' or silly talk, and the picture is of people casually throwing out loud, joking stories in a group. So it now means 'to chat and tell tall, joking stories'.