befool

Thân thiện

The con artist tried to befool the tourist with a fake map.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To deceive or trick someone; to make a fool of: The action of causing someone to believe something that is not true, often for amusement or personal gain.
   • To dupe or hoax: To treat someone as a fool by misleading them.

Usage

The verb "befool" is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the person being fooled). It is a somewhat formal or literary synonym for "fool" or "deceive."

Examples

• Verb:
  • He tried to befool the old man with a false promise.
  • Do not let their flattery befool you; their intentions are not honest.
  • The con artist's scheme was designed to befool even the most cautious investors.

Advanced Usage

• "to befool oneself": To deceive oneself; to hold a belief that is clearly false or misguided.
  • If you think you can succeed without hard work, you only befool yourself.

Variants and Related Words

• Befoolment (n, rare): The state of being befooled or the act of befooling.
  • His befoolment was complete; he gave them all his savings.

Synonyms

• Deceive: To cause someone to believe an untruth.
• Dupe: To trick or deceive.
• Hoodwink: To deceive or trick.
• Bamboozle: To confuse or fool someone.

Related Idioms

• Make a fool of: To trick someone, causing them to appear foolish.
  • The magician's trick was to make a fool of the volunteer from the audience. (This idiom is closely related to the meaning of "befool.")

Học thuật

Verb

1. fool or hoax
   • The immigrant was duped because he trusted everyone
   • You can't fool me!
2. make a fool or dupe of

Từ đồng nghĩa

• fool
• gull