Pinocchios
Noses grow longer
Pinocchios is the plural of Pinocchio, used to describe lies or false statements—from the wooden puppet whose nose grew when he lied.
Political fact-checkers rate claims by awarding Pinocchios: The senator's claim earned four Pinocchios.
The term can also describe liars themselves: a administration full of Pinocchios.
Woodworker who carved a puppet-boy
- marionetteString-controlled theatrical figure
- wooden puppetCarved articulated figure
- Blue FairyMagical maternal spirit figure
- FigaroOperatic barber-valet
Jiminy Cricket · Cleo · Stromboli · Gideon · Pleasure Island · Disney · Italian literature · fairy tale
String-controlled theatrical figure
- woodenMade from timber
- stringsThin flexible lines
- jointedHaving flexible connections
- carvedCut to create form
Geppetto · crafted · articulated · handmade · animated · lifeless · inanimate · controlled
Stating known falsehoods
- elongatingMaking more extended
- telltaleRevealing indicator
- giveawayFree item or betraying clue
- obviousEasily perceived, unmistakable
extending · stretching · facial feature · sprouting · lengthening
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- wish grantedDesired outcome obtained
- animationTechnique creating movement illusion
- humanizationAttributing personal characteristics
coming alive · redemption · growth · maturation · moral development · rebirth
One who speaks falsely
- fibberOne who tells untruths
- fabricatorCreator of lies
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- untruthfulNot speaking facts
deceiver · false · misleading · caught lying · unconvincing · telltale sign · giveaway · exposed
Geppetto
Woodworker who carved a puppet-boy
- marionetteString-controlled theatrical figure
- wooden puppetCarved articulated figure
- Blue FairyMagical maternal spirit figure
Jiminy Cricket · Figaro · Cleo · Stromboli · Gideon · Pleasure Island · Disney · Italian literature · fairy tale · woodcarver
marionette
String-controlled theatrical figure
carved · Geppetto · crafted · articulated · handmade · animated · lifeless · inanimate · controlled · manipulation
lying
Stating known falsehoods
- elongatingMaking more extended
- telltaleRevealing indicator
- giveawayFree item or betraying clue
obvious · extending · stretching · facial feature · sprouting · lengthening
real boy
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- wish grantedDesired outcome obtained
- animationTechnique creating movement illusion
coming alive · humanization · redemption · growth · maturation · moral development · rebirth
liar
One who speaks falsely
- fibberOne who tells untruths
- fabricatorCreator of lies
- dishonestInclined to deceive
untruthful · deceiver · false · misleading · caught lying · unconvincing · telltale sign · giveaway · exposed · detected
Pinocchiostruth-tellers
Those who state facts
straight shooters · whistleblowers · straight talkers · honest brokers