play the fool
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Related to play the fool: play tricks, bring into play
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play the fool
To behave comically or playfully, often to amuse others. Joe never plays the fool—he's always serious. If you continue to play the fool, you're going to have to leave the classroom.
play the fool
Fig. to act in a silly manner in order to amuse other people. The teacher told Tom to stop playing the fool and sit down. Fred likes playing the fool, but we didn't find him funny last night.
play the fool
Act in a silly or stupid way, as in Helen deliberately played the fool so they wouldn't realize she understood their strategy. [First half of 1500s]
act/play the ˈfool
behave in a stupid way to make people laugh, especially in a way that may also annoy them: It’s impossible to have a decent game of tennis with Frank — he acts the fool the whole time. ♢ If you played the fool in class a little less and worked a bit harder, you could do quite well.In the past, a fool was a man employed by a king or queen to entertain people by telling jokes, singing songs, etc.