(also see BEFOOL)
VERBS
1225 — ADOTE to become foolish; to be infatuated → obs.
1225 — DOTE to act foolishly, stupidly, or irrationally → obs.
1297 — BEGAB to fool with words, to mock, to deceive, to delude → obs.
1386 — BEDAFF to make a fool of → obs.
1390 — PLAY ABOBBED WITH to fool, to make sport of → obs.
1440 — DOTE to fool or confuse a person → obs.
1529 — BEDAW to make a fool of
1529 — COUGH ONE A DAW to make a fool of, to befool → obs.
1535 — DAFF to act the fool → chiefly Sc.
1545 — PIDDLE ABOUT — PIDDLE AROUND to act foolishly, and esp. in a time-wasting way → sl.
1548 — MAKE AN ASS OF SOMEONE to cause someone to appear foolish
1560 — GUCK to act the fool → Sc., obs.
1570 — DOR to make a fool of, to mock → obs.
1575 — POOP to fool, to deceive, to cheat → obs.
1581 — FOOLIFY to make a fool of → obs. exc. Eng. dial.
1588 — SELL ANY ONE A BARGAIN to make a fool of him, to ‘sell’ him → obs.
1590 — BAFFLE to make a fool of → obs.
1593 — NICK to fool
1599 — GIVE THE BAUBLE to make a fool of → obs.
1601 — TAKE A BEAR BY THE TOOTH to act in a foolhardy manner → obs.
1603 — GUCK to play the fool → Sc. obs.
1606 — DESERVE THE BAUBLE to make a fool of → obs.
1608 — SHEAR to fool, to trick → sl.
1626 — ADOLESCENTURATE to act the fool → obs.
1630 — CROWN WITH A MAROTTE to make a fool of → obs.
1637 — FLAM to fool, to swindle, to deceive
1652 — TONY to fool, to cheat, to swindle; to make a fool of → obs.
1656 — FATUATE to act foolishly, to play the fool → arch.
1660 — PUPPIFY to make compliant and submissive; to fool → obs.
1664 — ARSE ABOUT — ARSE AROUND to fool about, to act irresponsibly, to trifle → Brit.
1676 — CULLY to make a fool of, to deceive, to cheat (obs.)
1690 — SEEK A NEEDLE IN A BOTTLE OF HAY to attempt an extremely foolish, difficult, or impossible task
1698 — GAME to make a fool of, to jeer at, to mock, to delude → UK sl., obs.
..18C — BELIEVE THE MOON IS MADE OF CHEESE to be a fool → colloq.
1711 — SEEK A NEEDLE IN A TRUSS OF HAY to attempt an extremely foolish, difficult, or impossible task
1719 — TAKE A BEAR BY THE TOOTH to take foolhardy risks
1728 — NIFF-NAFF to act foolishly or aimlessly → Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
1735 — RUN ONE’S RIG UPON to make a fool of
1738 — EAT ONE’S NAILS to do something foolish → sl.
1767 — MAKE A MONKEY (OUT) OF to make a fool of → sl., orig. US
1781 — MAKE A JUDY (FITZSIMMONS) OF ONESELF to make a fool of oneself
1796 — NAFFLE to act foolishly → Sc. & Eng. dial.
..19C — CLEAVE THE CLOUDS to act foolishly and to no purpose
..19C — GIVE SOMEONE THE GUY to make a fool of someone; to tease → sl.
..19C — HOLD A LOOKING-GLASS TO A MOLE to act foolishly and to no purpose
..19C — MACKY-MOON to act the fool → Eng. dial.
..19C — MESS WITH to fool around with → US sl.
..19C — PLAY WITH THE BULL to be foolhardy; to run needless risks → Eng. dial.
..19C — PUT A ROPE TO THE EYE OF A NEEDLE to act foolishly and to no purpose
..19C — SAWNEY to fool, to act the sawney → Eng. dial.
..19C — SELL AN OX TO CATCH A HARE to act foolishly
..19C — WRITE ON THE SURFACE OF THE SEA to act foolishly and to no purpose
..E19 — TALK TURKEY to talk foolishly → sl., orig. US
1800 — HAVE BRICKDUST FOR BRAINS to be extremely foolish
1803 — NOODLE to fool; to trick → sl.
1804 — OXIFY to make an ox of, to make a fool of
1809 — STULTIFY to cause to be or appear foolish, ridiculous, or absurdly inconsistent; to reduce to foolishness or absurdity
1809 — TEACH IRON TO SWIM to act foolishly and to no purpose
1812 — GAMMON to fool, to deceive, to talk humbug
1812 — STRING to fool, to deceive, to dupe → sl., chiefly US
1813 — LARK to act the fool; to be mischievously merry → colloq.
1816 — HAIVER to talk in a foolish, incoherent manner → Sc.
1822 — HAVEREL to make a fool of → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1825 — GYPE to act the fool; to mess around → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1825 — TOM-FOOL to act the fool
1831 — IDIOTIZE to make a fool of
1833 — HAVE SAWDUST FOR BRAINS to be extremely foolish
1837 — FLUMMOX — FLUMMUX to fool, to confuse, to overcome by trickery → sl.
1843 — RAIN DOWN IN THE LAST SHOWER to be foolish, inexperienced, or gullible; chiefly used in negative contexts → Aust. & NZ colloq.
1845 — PROJECT to go about in search of amusement; to loaf, to fool around → Amer. dial.
.M19 — ACT THE NIGGER to act in a manner White racists expect of Black people, i.e. foolish, subservient, clownish → US sl., derogatory
1850 — DO DAGS to play foolhardy tricks → colloq.
1851 — BAMFOOZLE to fool, to swindle → Amer. dial.
1852 — GYPE to play the fool, to mess around → Sc. & Ireland
1854 — MOGE — MOGUE to fool, to deceive, to trick, to cheat, to humbug → sl., orig. Eng. dial.
1854 — MORG to fool, to deceive, to trick, to cheat, to humbug → sl., orig. Eng. dial.
1856 — MUCK ABOUT — MUCK AROUND to fool around; to act foolishly or aimlessly → sl.
1859 — FAKE to fool; to cheat; to swindle; to deceive → sl.
1861 — LANT to make a fool of → Sc.
1862 — LALLIGAG — LALLYGAG — LOLLIGAG — LOLLYGAG to fool about → US sl.
1863 — PLAY OFF ON to deceive, to fool, to trick → Amer. dial.
1863 — PLAY SILLY BLEEDERS to fool, to deceive, to trick
1867 — WALK DOWN ONE’S BACK to make a fool of someone → Eng. dial.
1869 — BE WRONG IN ONE’S GARRET to be foolish or wanting in intellect → sl.
1873 — PLAY SOMEONE FOR A CHINAMAN to treat as a fool → Amer. sl., offensive
1874 — FAFF ABOUT — FAFF AROUND to act foolishly, and esp. in a time-wasting way → sl., orig. Eng. dial.
1876 — NOT BE FIT TO CARRY OFFAL TO A BEAR to be regarded as foolish, lowly, contemptible, as to be unworthy or incapable of even the most menial or repugnant task → obs.
1877 — MONKEY WITH to fool around → US sl.
1877 — SILLY to act foolishly, to fool about → chiefly Eng. dial.
1878 — LAY IT OVER to fool, to deceive → US sl.
1879 — FILL UP to fool; to provide with misinformation → Amer. dial.
1882 — OAF ABOUT to act the fool → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1883 — COME DOWN IN THE LAST SHOWER to be foolish, inexperienced, or gullible; chiefly used in negative contexts → Aust. & NZ colloq.
1883 — ROAST SNOW IN A FURNACE to act foolishly and to no purpose → sl.
1884 — MONKEY AROUND to fool around → Amer. colloq.
1885 — FAKE OUT to fool, to get the better of
1886 — TAKE THE COOKIE to be the most foolish of a kind
1887 — GREEN ON — GREEN OUT to make a fool of → Amer. dial.
1888 — HACK to fool about; to waste time → US sl.
1889 — MONK to fool around → US sl.
1889 — SPOOF to fool; to hoax; to tease
1891 — COME OFF THE GRASS to stop talking foolishness → US sl.
1891 — NOT BE FIT TO CARRY GARBAGE TO A BEAR to be regarded as foolish, lowly, or contemptible, as to be unworthy or incapable of even the most menial or repugnant task → obs.
1892 — FANDANGLE to fool around → Ireland
1892 — FOOTLE to act foolishly → sl.
1892 — PLAY HORSE to act the fool → US sl.
1896 — PLAY THE JACK to act the fool → sl. (Bk.)
..L19 — ACT THE GIDDY GOAT to act the fool → sl.
..L19 — ACT THE GOAT to act the fool → sl.
..L19 — LOSE OUT to be fooled → Aust. sl.
..L19 — PIDDLE ABOUT to make a fool of someone
..L19 — PLAY THE GOAT to act the fool → sl.
..L19 — PAPPY SHOW — POPPY SHOW — PUPPY SHOW to make a fool of someone → W. Indies
..L19 — SPOOF to fool, to hoax, to trick → sl.
..20C — ACT THE JINNIT to act the fool → Irish sl.
..20C — JERK SOMEONE’S CHAIN to fool, to deceive, to victimize → US sl.
..20C — JERK SOMEONE’S STRING to fool, to deceive, to victimize → US sl.
..20C — JUNKET AROUND to act the fool
..20C — PULL SOMEONE’S CHAIN to fool, to deceive, to victimize → US sl.
..20C — PULL SOMEONE’S STRING to fool, to deceive, to victimize → US sl.
..20C — RAG ABOUT to fool about → sl., orig. & chiefly university
..20C — RATTLE SOMEONE’S CHAIN to fool, to deceive, to victimize → US sl.
..20C — RATTLE SOMEONE’S STRING to fool, to deceive, to victimize → US sl.
..20C — YANK SOMEONE’S STRING to fool, to deceive, to victimize
1900 — ACT THE HOG to act the fool → sl.
1900 — ACT THE MONKEY to act the fool → sl.
1900 — HORSE AROUND to fool around; to waste time → US sl.
1900 — PLAY THE MONKEY to act the fool → sl.
1900 — PLAY THE NANNY-GOAT to act like a fool → Eng. dial.
1900 — RUN THE HOG to act the fool → sl.
1901 — HAVE COTTON-BATTING FOR BRAINS to be extremely foolish
1903 — GET OUT OF ONE’S RINK to fool around, to sow wild oats → colloq. (Bk.)
1905 — FALL FOR to be fooled by a plan or trick
1905 — HALLOCK to act in a foolish, noisy way → Sc. (Bk.)
1905 — MAFFLE to act foolishly → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1905 — NANNICK — NANNOCK — NONNOCK — NONNUCK to act the fool → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1905 — TATTER to make a fool of anyone → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1910 — FALL TO to be fooled by a plan or trick
1910 — FART ABOUT to act foolishly or aimlessly → sl.
1910 — MUCK UP to act the fool → Aust. sl.
1914 — ASS AROUND to fool around, to loiter, to waste time → US sl.
1916 — BLIND to fool; to confound or stump someone → Amer. students’ usage
1916 — MONK to make a fool of → Amer. dial.
1917 — JAZZ AROUND to fool around → Amer. dial.
1918 — CONFISCATE THE MACAROON to be the most foolish of a kind; to ‘take the biscuit’ → Brit. sl.
1920 — CHUMP OUT to make a fool of someone → sl.
1920 — GIVE A RIDE to fool, to deceive, to trick, usually for financial gain → sl.
1920 — JACK ACT to act the fool → Irish sl.
1920 — PISS-ARSE ABOUT to fool around → army sl.
1920 — TAKE FOR A RIDE to fool, to deceive, to trick, usually for financial gain → sl.
1920 — TAKE FOR A TROT to fool, to deceive, to trick, usually for financial gain → sl.
1922 — FUCK ABOUT — FUCK AROUND to act foolishly, and esp. in a time-wasting way → sl.
1922 — BE NOT AS GREEN AS ONE IS CABBAGE-LOOKING to be less than a fool than might be assumed
1923 — CUT A GUT to do something foolish
1923 — GREEN to make a fool of → Amer. dial.
1923 — HACK ABOUT — HACK AROUND — HACK OFF to fool about; to waste time → US students’ sl.
1923 — MAKE A MUNSIE O’ to make a fool of
1925 — PACK IT IN — PACK IT UP to stop fooling or some foolish practice → Services’ sl.
1927 — JACKASS AROUND to fool about; to mess around; to waste time playing around → colloq.
1929 — BUGGER ABOUT — BUGGER AROUND to act foolishly, and esp. in a time-wasting way → Brit. & Aust. sl.
1929 — FUTZ AROUND to act foolishly, and esp. in a time-wasting way → US sl.
1929 — GOOF AROUND to act foolishly, and esp. in a time-wasting way → sl., chiefly US
1930 — FAFF to fool around, to waste time → sl.
1930 — CHUMP OFF to act the fool → African-American sl.
1930 — FOOZLE ABOUT to fool around → sl.
1931 — FART AROUND to act foolishly or aimlessly → sl.
1931 — WEAR THE BELLS to act the fool → Amer. dial.
1933 — ACE OUT to fool someone → US sl.
1935 — CRAP AROUND to act the fool → US sl.
1937 — ACT THE MAGGOT to act the fool → Irish sl.
1937 — DOSS to fool about, to mess around
1938 — CAT AROUND to fool around → Amer. dial., chiefly African-American
1938 — GAY-CAT to fool around → Amer. dial., chiefly African-American
1940 — COME THE ABDABS to fool someone → sl.
1940 — GIVE SOMEONE THE (OLD) ABDABS to fool someone → sl.
1940 — JACK OFF to fool around, to do nothing → US sl.
1940 — NUTS ABOUT — NUTS AROUND to fool around → US sl.
1941 — NUTS to fool around → US sl.
1942 — ACT THE ANGORA to act the fool → Aust. sl.
1942 — CUT A BIG GUT to do something foolish → US sl. (Bk.)
1943 — GOOF OFF to act foolishly, and esp. in a time-wasting way → sl., chiefly US
1945 — KICK THE GONG to fool around → US sl.
1947 — PONCE to fool around; to mess about
1949 — FART ABOUT to fool, to bluff; to get the better of; to deceive → sl.
1950 — BALLOCKS ABOUT — BALLOCKS AROUND to act the fool
1950 — PUTZ (AROUND) to fool around, to idle, to waste time → Amer. dial.
1954 — CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN to say foolish things
1959 — PULL SOMEONE’S TIT to make a fool of someone → Aust. sl.
1960 — BOLLIX AROUND to fool around → Amer. dial.
1960 — HAVE SHIT FOR BRAINS to be extremely foolish → sl., orig. US
1960 — CHUMP to act the fool → African-American sl.
1960 — JEFF to fool or deceive with a ‘line’ → African-American sl.
1960 — LOON to fool about like a lunatic → Brit. criminals’ sl.
1960 — SIMP to act like a fool → African-American sl.
1961 — PISS ABOUT — PISS AROUND to act foolishly, and esp. in a time-wasting way → sl.
1961 — PLAY SILLY BLEEDERS to act foolishly or aimlessly → sl.
1961 — PLAY SILLY Bs to act foolishly or aimlessly → sl.
1961 — PLAY SILLY BUGGERS to act foolishly or aimlessly → sl.
1961 — PRAT ABOUT to act foolishly, and esp. in a time-wasting way → Brit. sl.
1961 — YUCK IT UP — YUK IT UP to act foolishly, and esp. in a time-wasting way → sl., chiefly Amer.
1963 — FIDDLE-DEE-DEE AROUND to fool around → Amer. dial.
1963 — FIDDLE-FOOT AROUND to fool around, to move restlessly → Amer. dial.
1964 — FLY MUCH to act foolishly (Bk.)
1964 — THROW A SHOW to make a fool of oneself (Bk.)
1964 — YUCK IT UP to behave in a foolish, time-wasting way → US sl.
1966 — ASSEN AROUND to fool around; to loiter; to waste time → Amer. dial.
1966 — FLUBDUB AROUND to fool around → Amer. dial.
1966 — MESS to fool around; to kid around, to tease → Amer. dial.
1966 — PUT THE CAP ON SOMEONE to fool them → Amer. dial.
1967 — FISSLE AROUND to fool around, to putter → Amer. dial.
1967 — FLUB AROUND to fool around, to kill time → Amer. dial.
1967 — LOSE TIME to fool around → Amer. dial.
1968 — FART OFF to fool around → US sl.
1968 — FILL to fool; to provide with misinformation → Amer. dial.
1968 — JAG AROUND to fool around; to goof off → Amer. dial.
1968 — LOSE ONE’S JOCK to be fooled; generally used in sports (Bk.)
1968 — MEDDLE AROUND to fool around; to go about aimlessly looking for distraction → Amer. dial.
1968 — SHUCK to fool around, to tease → Amer. dial.
1969 — COME THE (OLD) ABDABS to fool, to hoax, to ‘tell the tale’
1970 — COME ON ONE’S GUAVA to make a fool of oneself → S. Afr. sl.
1970 — DUD to fool, to deceive → Aust. sl.
1970 — JIVE to fool around; to kid (Bk.)
1970 — JUMP SMART to act in a foolishly ‘clever’ manner → African-American sl.
1970 — MONKEY-FART AROUND to fool around → US sl.
1970 — SHUCK-AND-JIVE to fool around → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1970 — SLIP ON ONE’S GUAVA to make a fool of oneself → S. Afr. sl.
1972 — FIDDLE-FART AROUND to fool around, to waste time → US sl.
1975 — DUKE to fool; to deceive → US sl.
1975 — FIDDLE-FART to fool around, to waste time → Amer. dial.
1976 — ANTIC to fool around, to play → Amer. dial.
1979 — HAVE BIRD DROPPINGS FOR BRAINS to be extremely foolish
1979 — HAVE SOUP FOR BRAINS to be extremely foolish
1979 — LOON ABOUT to fool about like a lunatic → Brit. sl.
1980 — ACT THE PRICK to act the fool → sl.
1980 — DO ONESELF to make a fool of oneself → US sl.
1981 — CHILL OUT to stop acting foolish → African-American sl.
1982 — SHOW A TRICK to fool, to outwit, to deceive → NZ sl.
1984 — BIG-ASS to make a fool of → US sl.
1984 — FIDDLEFUCK AROUND to fool around, to waste time → Amer. dial.
1990 — ALI-BUTTON to be made a fool of by somebody
1990 — ASS OUT to make a fool of oneself → US students’ sl.
1990 — BAY AT THE MOON to act foolishly; to pursue an empty cause → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1990 — DORK OUT to act foolishly, in a clumsy and awkward manner
1990 — FADE to fool around or tinker with something or someone → African-American teen sl.
1990 — STOOGE to fool, to deceive → Aust. sl.
1990 — TAKE THE PISS OUT OF to act the fool → sl.
1992 — CUDDLE AND KISS to make a fool of, to ‘take the piss’ → UK rhyming sl.
1992 — TAKE THE TA-TA (KISS) to make a fool of someone → UK rhyming sl. for ‘take the piss’
1992 — TWAT to fool around, to waste time; to make a person foolish or rash
1992 — YANK SOMEONE’S CHAIN to fool, to deceive, to victimize
1996 — COME DOWN OFF THE CHRISTMAS TREE to be stupid, to be foolish → sl.
1996 — FRIG AROUND to fool around, to putter around → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1999 — MAKE A PROPER GALAH OF ONESELF to act foolishly → Aust. sl. (Bk.)
2000 — PULL SOMEONE’S PLONKER to fool someone → UK sl.
2002 — HAVE BRASS BALLS to be foolhardy, over-bold → US sl. (Bk.)
2002 — HAVE CAST-IRON BALLS to be foolhardy, over-bold → US sl. (Bk.)
2004 — ACT THE JINNIT to behave foolishly or irrationally → Irish sl. (Bk.)
2004 — ACT THE MAGGOT to play the fool, to clown around → Irish sl. (Bk.)
2009 — STEP ON ONE’S COCK to get oneself into trouble; to make a fool of oneself → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
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Lexicophilia 