throw the bull

verb3

1. •
   (old-fashioned) To chat idly.

   • "Sam, I'd love to throw the bull with you, but it's getting late. I'd better hit that diner." — 1958
2. •
   (old-fashioned) To make false boastful claims.

   • "I'm glad you look at it that way. I don't want you to think I'm just throwing the bull." — 1923
3. •
   (old-fashioned) To talk or write in an obscure and pretentious manner.

   • I was about to write a simple theme about this dumb question when I remembered that my literary friends were always "throwing the bull"—building up their sentences to sound complex and sophisticated. — 1988