fish story—an exaggerated story; an incredible tale (about fishing):
- A friend who does not tell fish stories, says he has seen them [herring] in such schools that he could not row his boat through them.
fishy story—a doubtful, questionable story suggestive of deception:
- He gives me a fishy story about how he bought the bike from an auction and is now selling it because it is too small for him.