Childrens Phrase- United States
Liar, Liar, pants on fire. Hang them up on telephone wire.
Kai told me another phrase that they say a lot on the playground. He said he learned this from his friend from school. He said that whenever someone is lying or whenever he doesnt believe in them, he would say this to them. I asked him why he says this and not something else when someone else is lying. He said that he didnt really know what else to say when someone is lying. And also it is fun for him to say it. When asked what was meaning behind this phrase, he told me that he didnt know. He just knew from his classmates that this was the thing you were supposed to say.
Speaking to Kai, brought old memories of my childhood in elementary school. Not that I remember most of it but I do remember these popular playground phrases and songs. Even nowadays, whenever someone is lying; the phrase liar, liar, pants on fire comes across my mind. I dont remember if it is just memory or we just didnt say it but I do not recall the second verse of this phrase. I dont ever remember saying, Hang them up on telephone wire when I was younger. I just remember always saying liar, liar, pants on fire and nothing else. Im not sure about the meaning behind the phrase. I think I once heard that when children are caught smoking; they try to lie about it and hid the cigarette in their pants. Hence the phrase liar, liar, pants on fire.