Basic Details
Word: Credulous
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Ready to believe things too easily, often without proper evidence.
Synonyms: Gullible, naive, trusting
Antonyms: Skeptical, wary
Idioms and Phrases
- Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me: This means if I believe someone tricking me once, thats their fault. If I believe them again, then it's my own fault for being gullible. Example: "After falling for the same trick twice, I thought, Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
- Don't look a gift horse in the mouth: This means dont question the value of something received for free, which can sometimes relate to being credulous. Example: "When I received the gift, I chose to just say thank you; after all, you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth!
Usage Examples
Example 1: She was so credulous that she believed every story her friends told her, even the unbelievable ones.
Example 2: The credulous audience clapped enthusiastically at the magicians tricks, not realising they were just illusions.
Example 3: His credulous nature often got him into trouble because he would trust anyone, even strangers.
Fun Fact
The word 'credulous' comes from the Latin word 'credulus', which means 'believing' or 'trusting.' It's fascinating to note that the roots of the word are closely related to 'credit,' which is about trusting someone to repay a debt.
Famous Quote
"The credulous person is often deceived, for belief often breeds illusion. Unknown
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "credulous" mean?
a) Ready to believe things too easily
b) Always doubtful of everything
c) Very clever and shrewd
d) Not interested in anything
Answer: a) Ready to believe things too easily
2. Which of these is a synonym of "credulous"?
a) Skeptical
b) Gullible
c) Cautious
d) Logical
Answer: b) Gullible
3. Which of these is an antonym of "credulous"?
a) Trusting
b) Naive
c) Skeptical
d) Believing
Answer: c) Skeptical
4. Which sentence uses "credulous" correctly?
a) The credulous cat jumped over the wall.
b) He was so credulous that he questioned everything he saw.
c) The credulous girl believed in fairytales without a second thought.
d) I felt credulous after studying mathematics all week.
Answer: c) The credulous girl believed in fairytales without a second thought.
5. Which idiom suggests a lack of caution similar to being credulous?
a) Every cloud has a silver lining.
b) Bite off more than you can chew.
c) Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
d) The grass is always greener on the other side.
Answer: c) Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
