fool

Someone who thinks or acts without good sense.

• Do not be a fool.
• I felt like a fool for losing the keys again.
• Only a fool would believe that story.

How to use it: make a fool of oneself (I made a fool of myself at the meeting.); a fool to do something (You would be a fool to ignore her advice.)

Similar words: idiot, foolish person

Common phrases: a complete fool, make a fool, look a fool

A person whose job was to make a king or queen laugh with jokes and silly actions.

• The fool made the king laugh.
• A court fool could sometimes criticize the ruler.
• The queen rewarded her fool for his clever jokes.

Similar words: jester

Common phrases: court fool, the royal fool

A sweet dish made by mixing soft, crushed fruit with cream or custard.

• We had gooseberry fool for dessert.
• She mixed the fruit with cream to make a fool.
• Serve the apricot fool in small glasses.

Similar words: dupe

Common phrases: gooseberry fool, apricot fool, fruit fool

Make someone believe something that is not true.

• You cannot fool me.
• His disguise fooled everyone at the party.
• Do not fool yourself into thinking the problem has gone away.

How to use it: fool someone into doing something (The message fooled him into sharing his password.); fool someone with something (She fooled us with a fake accent.)

Similar words: trick, deceive, mislead

Common phrases: fool someone into, fool yourself, fool someone with, fool someone

Behave in a silly way, often instead of doing something serious.

• Stop fooling around.
• The boys fooled about during the lesson.
• We spent the afternoon fooling around in the garden.

Similar words: mess around, act silly

Common phrases: fool around, fool about