the bull is off the nickle 

evidently it's an older expression referring to something that is crazy or unbelievable. I heard it used on an old episode of the Twilight Zone recently, but had never heard the expression before.

such an outlandish story proved "the bull is off the nickle".

the bull is off the nickle by free ale January 2, 2010

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 being 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

The bull is off the nickel by MJD1 January 3, 2021

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

The bull is off the nickel by MJD1 January 3, 2021

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

The bull is off the nickel by MJD1 January 9, 2021