The bull is off the nickel

"Bull" is being used as a double entendre -- meaning both the animal shown on the nickel and the other meaning of stupid or untrue talk or writing; nonsense. So, the bull is coming off the nickel and bring applied to the situation at hand. The situation at hand being nonsensical.

This obscure phrase is famously used in the Twilight Zone episode "Mr. Garrity and the Graves". Rod Serling, in the intro, uses this expression in referring to Jared Garrity, who makes a living restoring life to the dead.

"Mr. Garrity, if one can believe him, is a resurrecter of the dead - which, on the face of it, certainly sounds like the bull is off the nickel." -- Rod Serling

by MJD1 January 9, 2021

Took the nickel

Sought protection from the Fifth Amendment.

When asked if he'd ever used drugs, he took the nickel to avoid implicating himself.

by flamingpanties September 20, 2012

The Dirty Nickel

By far the most disgusting district in the Cleveland Police Department. Formly known as the 5th District and now the 3rd District. The walls are falling apart and there are bullet holes in the garage from officers driving by hammered cranking off a few in hopes of hitting the commanders jaguar. Home of clown face the most prolific cop on the east side. The roll call room and bathrooms are covered withs large drawings of cocks and other slander. The night shift sergeant has been seen showering upstairs where reports of staph infection have been present. Althougth its the best place for a Cleveland cop to take a dump in connection with all the entertaining stories and drawings on the bathroom stalls. Its been said the dirty nickel is home to the worst supervisors in the history of Cleveland Police Department.

Chris: "Dude we graduated the academy were going to the dirty nickel!"

Ron: "Yea that place blows some dude out there has a huge cock they draw it on all the walls."

Chris: "Apparently he bangs virgin rookies with that huge cock."

Dirty Nickel

by The wild zone car June 29, 2011

The Big Nickel

A gas station south of Tacoma that nobody thinks exists, but definitely does exist and has a huge nickel statue out front.

Dude, have you been to the Big Nickel? None of my friends think it's real but I *know* I've been there.

by Stell9910 September 1, 2025

Squeeze a nickel 'til the buffalo shits

Exceedingly frugal, ridiculously cheap, unwilling or unable to let go of money when one should

"Trying to get this guy to pay for something is impossible...He could squeeze a nickel 'til the buffalo shits!"

by Mr Jameson September 27, 2010

Squeeze a nickel 'til the buffalo shits

Cheap sonofabitch. Will argue at length why s/he shouldn't have to pay for something. Mr. Pink from Resevoir Dogs. Often has few if any other friends because of reputation for cheapness. Frugal beyond practicality, cheap for its own sake.

The saying is in reference to an earlier version of the US Nickel, which had a picture of a buffalo on it. The phrase is sometimes updated as: "He'll squeeze a nickel till a booger flies out of Jefferson's nose."

"Fuckin' Randy! We all went to eat at Dennys and when the check came he paid with exact change and refused to throw in for the tip."

"Yeah, he'll squeeze a nickel 'til the buffalo shits. That's why I'm banging his girlfriend now."

by jcasetnl April 30, 2012

shiniest nickel in the piggy bank

when a person is so unintelligent that they cannot comprehend even the most remedial concepts of education

Jerome did not understand what the scientific term for water, h2o was - he damn sure is not the shiniest nickel in the piggy bank.

by Samran53 December 22, 2020