Definition

1. Noun:
   • A practical joke or trick played on the first day of April: An "April fool" is the trick or hoax itself, typically involving a deceptive story or action meant to cause mild embarrassment or amusement on April 1st.
   • The victim of a prank played on April 1st: An "April fool" is also the person who is tricked or deceived by such a joke.

Usage Examples

• Noun (The Trick):

  • Sending him a fake promotion letter was a clever April fool. (The deceptive letter itself was the trick.)
  • The news report about the flying penguins was an elaborate April fool. (The false report was the hoax.)

• Noun (The Person Tricked):

  • You believed the office was closing? You're such an April fool! (The person who believed the false story is the "April fool".)
  • After falling for the fake spider, she realized she was the April fool. (She was the victim of the prank.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be/make an April fool of someone": to trick someone on April Fools' Day.
  • He made an April fool of his brother by hiding his alarm clock. (He tricked his brother with a prank.)

Variants and Related Words

• April Fools' Day (proper noun): The annual celebration on April 1st involving the playing of practical jokes.
  • Be careful what you believe on April Fools' Day.

Synonyms

• Prank: a practical joke or mischievous act.
• Hoax: a deceptive act or false story intended as a trick.
• Dupe: a person who is easily deceived or tricked (similar to the "victim" sense).

Related Phrases

• April Fools' joke: This is a more common phrasing for the trick itself.
  • The website's claim was just an April Fools' joke.

Related Idioms

• "Don't be an April fool!": A warning said on or around April 1st to encourage skepticism.
  • He said the computer had a virus, but don't be an April fool—it's probably a prank!

Noun

1. a practical joke or trick played on the first day of April
2. the butt of a prank played on April 1st