polichinelle Definition
- 1a character in traditional Italian puppet shows, known for his hunchback and stutter
- 2a secret that is poorly kept or a surprise that is not really a surprise
Using polichinelle: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "polichinelle" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The polichinelle was a favorite character in the puppet shows of the 18th century.
Example
The news of their engagement was a polichinelle; everyone already knew they were getting married.
Example
The company's financial troubles were a polichinelle; rumors had been circulating for months.
polichinelle Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for polichinelle
Phrases with polichinelle
faire polichinelle de quelque chose
to make fun of something or to treat it as a joke
Example
Il faisait polichinelle de ses problèmes financiers. (He made a joke of his financial problems.)
avoir un polichinelle dans le tiroir
to be pregnant
Example
Elle a un polichinelle dans le tiroir. (She's got a bun in the oven.)
un secret de polichinelle
an open secret, a poorly kept secret
Example
Leur relation était un secret de polichinelle. (Their relationship was an open secret.)
Origins of polichinelle
from Italian 'Pulcinella', the name of the character in the puppet shows
Summary: polichinelle in Brief
'Polichinelle' [ˌpɒlɪʃɪˈnɛl] refers to a character in traditional Italian puppet shows, known for his hunchback and stutter. It also means a secret that is poorly kept or a surprise that is not really a surprise. The phrase 'faire polichinelle de quelque chose' means to make fun of something or to treat it as a joke, while 'un secret de polichinelle' means an open secret.
