Meaning & use
gullible on the ceiling
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrasehumorousinformal
A joking way to say that someone is extremely willing to believe anything they are told.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb such as be or seem, and usually followed by a clause: He's so gullible on the ceiling (that) he'd believe it.
Patterns
- someone is gullible on the ceiling
- so gullible on the ceiling that ...
- call someone gullible on the ceiling
My brother is gullible on the ceiling — he actually paid for a map of Atlantis.
She's so gullible on the ceiling that she believed my story about a talking cat.
Don't tease Grandpa by calling him gullible on the ceiling; he takes jokes seriously.
phraseidiomhumorousinformal
Used as a light, rhyming reply when someone says another person is too trusting.
Grammar: Stands alone as a short answer or comment, often after a statement about someone being gullible.
Patterns
- 'He believes anything.' 'Gullible on the ceiling!'
"You mean he fell for that email again?" "Gullible on the ceiling, that one."
Whenever my sister trusts a bad offer, my dad just smiles and says, "Gullible on the ceiling."
Common combinations
- so gullible on the ceiling that
- He's so gullible on the ceiling that he thinks the moon is made of cheese.
- be gullible on the ceiling
- If you believe that advertisement, you must be gullible on the ceiling.
- call someone gullible on the ceiling
- The kids called their cousin gullible on the ceiling after he fell for the prank.
- gullible on the ceiling, that one
- Fell for it again? Gullible on the ceiling, that one.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gullible
- This is the plain, serious word for being too ready to believe things; the ceiling version is only a joke and sounds much less direct.
- naive
- Naive suggests a lack of experience rather than a permanent weakness, so it is kinder and more neutral than this teasing phrase.
- trusting
- Trusting can be a mild compliment, meaning you expect people to be honest; this phrase clearly criticizes the person for believing too easily.
Opposites
Word family
- gullibility noun
- The quality of believing things too easily.
- gullibly adverb
- In a way that shows too much readiness to believe.
Commonly confused: gullible on the ceiling or gullible? gullible on the ceiling or ceiling?
gullible on the ceiling vs gullible
This is the ordinary adjective and the base of the joke phrase; on its own it is serious, while 'gullible on the ceiling' is only a humorous rhyme.
gullible on the ceiling vs ceiling
The literal noun for the top surface of a room; in this phrase it appears only to rhyme with 'gullible' and has no real meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase naturally?
Choose one answer.
The phrase describes a person who believes anything, so it fits after 'so' with a person as the subject, as in option B. Option An and C treat it as a thing in a room, and D uses it as a serious topic, which the joking phrase is not meant for.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gullible on the ceiling”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.