Дочитываю детские книжки Даля и вспомнила ещё одну штуку про лицо без лица:

‘But you told me that witches look like ordinary women, Grandmamma. So how can I spot them?’

‘You must listen to me,’ my grandmother said. ‘You must remember everything I tell you. After that, all you can do is cross your heart and pray to heaven and hope for the best.’ [...]

‘You swear you aren’t pulling my leg?’ I kept saying to her. ‘You swear you aren’t just pretending?’

Или даже так:

‘Stop pulling the Earthworm’s leg,’ the Ladybird said. This sent the Centipede into hysterics.

Как раз прочитала «Fantastic Mr Fox» и представила, как лиса Алиса водит Буратино за нос, а кот Базилио тащит за ногу.