Irish bull

American

noun

a paradoxical statement that appears at first to make sense. Example: He's the kind of guy who looks you right in the eye as he stabs you in the back.

Irish bull British

noun

a ludicrously illogical statement See also bull 2

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Irish bull

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mr. Seddon," said the Professor, "be so good as to keep your Irish bulls in the background.

From Project Gutenberg

So, also, the impossibility in plausibility which tickles the fancy in Irish bulls, and in wild exaggerations, leaves an uncomfortable impression, a certain aftertaste of foolishness.

From Project Gutenberg

These were the original Irish bulls, we suppose.

From Project Gutenberg

Ah, yes, the herr is right, they were Irish bulls; but I do not quite know.

From Project Gutenberg

Irish bulls, as it has been said of constitutions, "are not made—they grow," and that only in their own native soil.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023