Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A gaping simpleton who believes everything that he hears; a credulous person.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Literally, a fly swallower; hence, once who keeps his mouth open; a boor; a silly and credulous person.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun naive person.

Etymologies

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Examples

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  • A credulous person, especially one who believes everything they hear.

    May 12, 2008

  • Literally, this word refers to someone who swallows flies, that is, someone whose mouth is always open -- a silly, gullible person or a boor. It's also the name for a type of bird.

    January 1, 2009

  • "There Was Once an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" - Cumulative verse employing a dose of situational irony, written by one Rose Bonne.

    October 3, 2013

  • "Deplorables" can mean the louche,

    The wicked man coarsely uncouth,

    Or simple unwise

    Who swallows his lies,

    The gullible, gaping gobemouche.

    May 10, 2018