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Fooling: meaning, definitions and examples

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fooling

 

[ ˈfuːlɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

trick or deceive

To fool someone means to deceive or trick them into believing something that is not true. This can involve misleading them or leading them to draw false conclusions. Fooling can be done playfully or maliciously, depending on the intent behind the action. In a playful context, it might involve pranks, while in a more serious context, it can involve manipulation.

Synonyms

deceive, dupe, hoodwink, mislead, trick

Examples of usage

  • She was fooling her friends with a clever joke.
  • He fooled everyone with his magic trick.
  • Don't fool yourself into thinking it will be easy.
  • The con artist was good at fooling his victims.

Translations

Translations of the word "fooling" in other languages:

🇵🇹 enganando

🇮🇳 बेवकूफ बनाना

🇩🇪 täuschen

🇮🇩 menipu

🇺🇦 обманюючи

🇵🇱 oszukując

🇯🇵 騙すこと

🇫🇷 duper

🇪🇸 engañando

🇹🇷 kandırma

🇰🇷 속이기

🇸🇦 خداع

🇨🇿 podvádění

🇸🇰 podvádzanie

🇨🇳 欺骗

🇸🇮 zavajanje

🇮🇸 svik

🇰🇿 алдау

🇬🇪 მატყუება

🇦🇿 aldatma

🇲🇽 engañando

Etymology

The word 'fool' comes from the Latin 'follis', meaning 'a bag' or 'bellows', which was used figuratively to describe a person as someone empty or of little worth, much like a vessel that is incapable of containing much. In Middle English, 'fool' referred to a person who was a jester or a comedian, someone who entertained others while lacking wisdom. Over time, the meaning evolved to include any person who could be easily deceived or tricked. The development of 'fooling' as a verb derives from this noun, encapsulating the action of deceiving or tricking someone. This evolution reflects societal attitudes towards intelligence and deception, where fooling someone is often seen in both humorous and negative lights, depending on the context.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,864, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.