play the fool en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To behave in a foolish or comical manner.
Back in school again, Maxwell plays the fool again Teacher gets annoyed
1969, Paul McCartney, “Maxwell's Silver Hammer”, in Abbey Road, performed by The Beatles:
-
(idiomatic) To pretend or feign ignorance.
I play the fool when we're together But I cry when we're apart, yeah I couldn't do you no better Don't break what's left of my broken heart, baby
1980, Prince, “Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?”, in Prince:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| playing the fool | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| plays the fool | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| played the fool | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| played the fool | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Translations (48)
ja とぼける (pretend ignorance) · it fare il finto tonto (pretend ignorance) · yue 詐傻 /诈傻 (pretend ignorance) · ru валя́ть дурака́ (behave in a foolish manner) · sv apa sig (behave in a foolish manner) · fi pelleillä (behave in a foolish manner) · es hacerse el sueco (pretend ignorance) · fr feindre l'ignorance (pretend ignorance) · cmn 裝傻 /装傻 (pretend ignorance) · es hacer el canelo (behave in a foolish manner) · es hacerse el tonto (pretend ignorance) · ru дура́читься (behave in a foolish manner) · ko 광대 노릇을 하다 (behave in a foolish manner) · pl zgrywać głupiego (pretend ignorance) · eo stultumi (behave in a foolish manner) · sv spela dum (pretend ignorance) · sv löjla sig (behave in a foolish manner) · de den Narren spielen (behave in a foolish manner) · sv spela pajas (behave in a foolish manner) · jam form fool (pretend ignorance) · fr faire l'imbécile (behave in a foolish manner) · cmn 裝傻充愣 /装傻充愣 (pretend ignorance) · cmn 胡鬧 /胡闹 (behave in a foolish manner) · pl wygłupiać się (behave in a foolish manner) · cmn 出洋相 (behave in a foolish manner) · it fare il buffone (behave in a foolish manner) · fr faire l'andouille (behave in a foolish manner) · lv plēst velnu (behave in a foolish manner) · fr jouer au con (pretend ignorance) · fur fâ il basoâl (behave in a foolish manner) · ru прики́дываться дурако́м (pretend ignorance) · ar تَصَرَّفَ بِغَبَاء (behave in a foolish manner) · ja ばかを見させる (behave in a foolish manner) · la ineptio (behave in a foolish manner) · cmn 幹蠢事 /干蠢事 (behave in a foolish manner) · de herumalbern (behave in a foolish manner) · mi whakaheahea (behave in a foolish manner) · es hacerse el longuis (pretend ignorance) · fi teeskennellä tietämätöntä (pretend ignorance) · gl facer o parvo (behave in a foolish manner) · grc μωραίνω (behave in a foolish manner) · fi hölmöillä (behave in a foolish manner) · ca fer l'andorrà (pretend ignorance) · lv dzīt velnu (behave in a foolish manner) · jam form fool (behave in a foolish manner) · fr faire l'idiot (behave in a foolish manner) · el μωραίνω (behave in a foolish manner) · gl facerse o parvo (pretend ignorance)