26984 words

fool

15 definitions • 23 examples
1
a person who behaves in a silly way without thinking:

Examples:

[ as form of address ] You fool, you missed your chance!
He's a fool if he thinks she still loves him.
like a fool He said he would pay me back and like a fool, I believed him.
feel like a fool I felt like a fool when I dropped my phone in the toilet.
[ + to infinitive ] He's a fool to think she still loves him.
2
to trick someone or make someone appear stupid in some way:

Examples:

You made a fool of me in front of all those people!
3
to do something that makes other people think you are silly or not to be respected:

Examples:

I got a little drunk and made a fool of myself.
4
anyone:

Examples:

Any fool could tell that she was joking.
5
to not be stupid or easily deceived:

Examples:

I notice Ed didn't offer to pay for her - he's no fool.
6
said to mean that you think someone is being unwise:

Examples:

"I lent Rhoda £100 and she hasn't paid me back." "More fool you - you know what she's like!"
7
in the past, a person who was employed in the court of a king or queen to make the court laugh by telling jokes and doing funny things
8
to behave in a silly way, often intentionally to make people laugh:

Examples:

Stop acting the fool, I'm trying to talk to you.
9
a sweet, soft food made of crushed fruit, cream, and sugar:

Examples:

gooseberry fool If you are serving gooseberry fool on its own, add a little extra sugar.
10
to trick someone:

Examples:

Don't be fooled by his appearance.
She said she was doing it to help me, but I wasn't fooled.
be fooled into Tim was fooled into believing that he'd won a lot of money.
11
used to tell someone that you do not believe what they have just said:

Examples:

"Really, I'm very happy." "You could have fooled me."
12

Examples:

You've done some fool things in your time, but this beats everything.
13
a person who behaves in a silly way, or someone who lacks judgment:

Examples:

Crazy I may be, but I try not to be a fool.
I know I’m making a fool of myself, but I can’t help it.
They were dressed up like a bunch of fools.
14

Examples:

I made a damn fool mistake, but I’ll never do it again.
15
to trick or deceive someone:

Examples:

[ T ] She tries to fool people about her age by wearing heavy makeup and coloring her hair.
[ I ] You don’t owe me a penny, I was only fooling (= joking).

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