play the fool
The idiom "play the fool" involves acting in a silly or deceptive manner, often for entertainment or to mislead others.
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Definition
B2General
(informal)To behave in a silly or comical way, often to make people laugh.
Example
- During the party, he decided to play the fool to lighten the mood.
B2General
(informal)To pretend to be ignorant or less capable to avoid responsibility or deceive others.
Example
- She played the fool to get out of doing the difficult task.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "play the fool":
act a foolfool aroundplay dumbjoke aroundplay tricksfool's errandmess aroundplay alongplay aroundscrew arounddick aroundmake a mockery offuck aroundjerk aroundplay fast and looseplay toplay the man and not the ballfool racka fool and his money are soon partedpull someone's plonkerfiddle aroundplay the fieldplay possummess about