Idioms fill out English language but often we are never told where they emanate from. A Tall Story is an exaggeration or something almost unbelievable. American folklore tells of Paul Bunyan a logger who cleared according to legend most of America of trees to make way for example the Great Lakes. Bunyan was born big so big that when as a baby he yelled all the fish left the sea. He reputedly ate 10 bowls of porridge in the morning.
We are told Tall Stories everyday especially in business. As a boy at Scout Camp I was told to go to the shops and buy some elbow grease to use washing up. Like an idiot I went of course but I woke up when told to go get skyhooks to put up the tent. The cheque is in the post was a famous Tall Story in business but that one no longer holds muster as cheques , envelopes and stamps are becoming dinosaurs. We were always told by our elders never to ‘ cry Wolf ‘ and as a boy I returned home to tell my uncle the cows had escaped only to not be believed. There was of course no milk the next day.
The tall Bobby in the picture proves that small policemen are no longer being admitted into the Force as they are now required to see far and beyond the call of duty. We have been hearing lots of Tall Stories from the City these last two years Carillion, Greensill , Patisserie Valerie , We Work and many more. Those invested have been hurt but an apology from someone always seem to be enough and little is done or changed to make sure it all doesn’t happen again ( which of course it will ).
The blogger will be writing about a few more idioms in the months ahead. Soon as winter comes it will be Brass Monkeys so get ready for for the updates.
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