fool (redirected from Playing the Fool)

act/play the fool

to behave in a silly way, often in order to make people laugh. Come on guys, stop acting the fool and pay attention.

See also: act, play

be no/nobody's fool

to be intelligent. John's no fool. He's never going to believe that excuse.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

something that you say which means that stupid people spend money without thinking about it enough. Gianni relishes his extravagant lifestyle - but then a fool and his money are soon parted.

See also: his, money, soon

a fool's errand

an attempt to do something that has no chance of success. Billions of dollars have been spent on long-range weather forecasting, but it's a fool's errand.

See also: errand

Fools rush in (where angels fear to tread).

something that you say which means that stupid people do things without thinking about them enough. Alan volunteered to be chairman and now he regrets it. Fools rush in, is all I can say.

See also: rush

live in a fool's paradise

to be happy because you do not know or will not accept how bad a situation really is. James is living in a fool's paradise if he thinks things are always going to be this good.

See also: live

make a fool of yourself

to do something which makes you seem stupid. He's always getting drunk and making a fool of himself at parties.

More fool you! (British, American & Australian, American)

something that you say in order to show that you think someone has done something stupid. You lent her sixty pounds and expected it back? More fool you! 'He's volunteered to work late.' 'The more fool him, then.'

See also: more

play someone for a fool (American & Australian)

to treat someone as if they are stupid, especially by trying to get something from them in a way that is not fair. He's playing you for a fool. Just don't lend him any more money.

See also: play

not suffer fools gladly

to become angry with people you think are stupid. Jim's a fair boss, but he doesn't suffer fools gladly.

See also: suffer

You could've fooled me. (informal)

something that you say when you do not believe what someone says about something that you saw or experienced yourself. 'No, I wasn't angry, I was just a little surprised.' 'Really? You could've fooled me.'

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fool around

to waste time doing something without a particular purpose. It was a serious academic school, not a place to fool around.

Usage notes: often used in the negative to mean to not waste time but to act with a serious purpose: The coach was in no mood to fool around, and the team knew it.I've had to reorganize, redefine, & separate "fool around" from "fool around with sth" and "with sb" orig. combined in 2 entries, as the objects differ; also "mess around" etc.--SL, 12/02

fuck around

See also: around

fool around with someone

to have sex with someone other than your husband, wife, or usual sexual partner. It's hard to believe that any man can get caught fooling around with another woman and still manage to keep his wife on his side.

See also: around

fool around with something

to amuse yourself by doing or saying something that is likely to cause trouble. You don't want kids fooling around with matches.

See also: around

fool with someone

to deceive or annoy someone for your own amusement. He often made promises, but usually he was only fooling with us.

mess with someone

fuck with someone

fool with something

1. to be busy with something without a special purpose. Sammy was always fooling with his model trains.

2. to try to fix or use something complicated. I'm not an expert, but I've spent 14 years fooling with computers and thought I could handle this problem. Don't fool with those papers! I've got them in a particular order.

Usage notes: usually if you fool with something, you will spoil or break it

mess with something

fuss with something

make a fool of yourself

to do something which makes you appear ridiculous. If you're afraid to make a fool of yourself, you will never be a successful performer. My former husband thought it was fun to make a fool of me.

make a spectacle of yourself

not suffer fools (gladly)

to be unwilling to deal with stupid people. Phyllis is intelligent and impatient, and she does not suffer fools gladly.

See also: suffer

play the fool

to behave in a silly way, often to make people laugh. Teenagers will often play the fool in class when they don't know the answers.

See also: play