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Parents and other adults are known to tell white lies to children. Some white lies -- such as lying about Santa Claus -- are part of a tradition and are meant for fun. Some white lies are to protect children. For example, when a child asks about a person who has died, adults may say the dead person is simply sleeping. Even adults may sometime prefer to hear a lie than a truth that is too difficult to face. Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies. Tell me lies, tell me, tell me lies Oh, no, no you can't disguise. You can't disguise, no you can't disguise Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies.
Another kind of relatively harmless lie is called a fib. It is a little, unimportant lie. Fibbers who fib are usually not out to hurt anyone. Sometimes people simply make things up.
Other times they stretch the truth , or exaggerate. In other words, they add details to the truth to make a story better. Bending the truth is also not a severe lie. If you bend the truth , you take the truth and change it very slightly. A half-truth is trickier.
It could be like the name says — a statement that is half true and half false. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy , Privacy Policy , and our Terms of Service. In the etymology age where every possible expression seems to have been run down to its true source, 'Liar, liar, Pants on fire' stands apart because I just googled it and nobody knows its origin fo' sure!
Google search for "liar liar pants on fire" origin.
It is usually attributed inconclusively and without much evidence, as far as I can make out to an overyear-old poem apparently by William Blake, which is itself suspected of being a fake. Can some etymology wizard at ELU provide an authoritative answer backed by appropriate citation? Using the phrase " Liar! OED provides an early citation of the phrase used twice in a row:. I2v Lyer, lyer, licke dish. The phrase "licke dish," is interesting and personally I don't know how to explain that turn of phrase.
However, it is remarkably similar to the phrase "lick spit" seen later in a context that seems relevant to pants on fire:. Meanwhile, use of " Liar!
I am at a loss to understand your meaning," said he softly. But his chosen organs, the Tribune, and other black Republican papers, and the black Republican preachers, have unceasingly denied it, with vulgar epithets of lie!
The article cited by Josh in the comments claims that the full line "Liar, liar, pants on fire" was cited in print in The earliest reference I could find was from , but clearly alludes at a historical context around the phrase:. Overall, this collection of references still seems to suggest that the phrase, in some form or another, was used in verse before any sources I've been able to locate.
While I have no direct evidence of a link, the rhyming line "nose as long as a telephone wire" suggests a possible allusion to the popular and widely translated children's novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, where, as most readers probably know, the marionette Pinocchio's nose grew each time he told lies. Following this line of speculation, it seems worth noting that at three points in the novel, Pinocchio is threatened with burning as firewood.
Liar Liar Pants On Fire is a phrase that children like to scream at each other whenever they think the other is lying. They also like to scream it at adults who tell. A Chant normally used by children to indicate they think someone is lying. The full phrase is "Liar, liar, pants on fire. Hangin' on a telephone wire".
I think people are just looking a bit too hard. Alternative outlets Articles with a single source Bare notability Bombardment Businesses with a single location But it's true! Essay guide Value of essays Difference between policies, guidelines and essays Don't cite essays as if they were policy Avoid writing redundant essays Finding an essay Quote your own essay. About policies and guidelines Policies Guidelines How to contribute to Wikipedia guidance Policy writing is hard.
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Do share in the Comments section and on our Facebook page. The group word for lies is pack. Wikipedia essays Wikipedia deletion essays Wikipedia essays on building the encyclopedia. OED provides an early citation of the phrase used twice in a row:. Confusing arguments mean nothing Content removal Counting and sorting are not original research Delete the junk Does deletion help? Essay guide Value of essays Difference between policies, guidelines and essays Don't cite essays as if they were policy Avoid writing redundant essays Finding an essay Quote your own essay.
This page was last edited on 29 October , at By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This page in a nutshell: Calling an editor a liar is not a valid argument in AfD discussions or anywhere else, for that matter.