PHRASES
..17C — HE HAS AS MUCH WIT AS THREE FOLKS, TWO FOOLS AND A MADMAN he’s a fool, but he’s also rather cunning
..19C — A FOOL’S A MONKEY’S MASTER said to one who calls another a fool → Eng. dial.
1888 — THERE ARE NO FLIES ON HIM he is no fool
1891 — THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF DRESSING CALVES’ HEADS many ways of saying or doing a foolish thing; a simpleton has many ways of showing his folly; or, generally, if one way won’t do, we must try another → sl. (Bk.)
..20C — I DIDN’T COME DOWN IN THE LAST SHOWER (OF RAIN) I’m not stupid; don’t take me for a fool → Aust. sl.
..E20 — HE DOESN’T KNOW IF HIS ARSEHOLE IS BORED OR PUNCHED he’s a complete fool → sl.
1916 — BORE FOR THE SIMPLES refers to a stupid person; the idea is that a hole in the skull might let some of the foolishness out → Amer. dial.
1922 — NOT SO GREEN AS I’M CABBAGE-LOOKING I’m not such a fool as I may appear → sl.
1940 — I DIDN’T FALL OFF A CHRISTMAS TREE I’m not stupid; don’t take me for a fool → sl.
1945 — FULL GROWN IN BODY ONLY said of a simple-minded or foolish person → US Western usage (Bk.)
1945 — OUGHT TO BE PLAYING WITH A STRING OF SPOOLS said of a foolish or young person → US Western usage (Bk.)
1960 — NO JONAS TIP PLAYED ON ME no one is going to take me for a fool → African-American sl.
1970 — COME ON, IT’S NOT A DISCO don’t make a fool of yourself
1996 — FOOTIN’ AROUND fooling around, fussing → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1999 — DON’T COME THE RAW PRAWN WITH ME don’t try to fool me (Bk.)
1999 — DON’T COME THE UNCOOKED CRUSTACEAN WITH ME don’t try to fool me (Bk.)
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