to be silly
88
2.1
- phrasal verb
:
hacer tonterías
- But a job where I have to like not be silly ever.
I enjoy forcing brilliant people to be silly, hence this meme review.
- I enjoy forcing brilliant people to be silly, hence this meme review.
- Laughing too loud, just being silly, but above all, being present in your own life.
- And Rosemary thought I was, was being silly about this.
- So what we've got to understand is that saving it like that is silly.
- My pic in my bio with a cigar in my mouth is just me being silly.
- But what's the joke about just being like, I don't know, she's always being silly.
- You know, people are realizing, I think more and more across the spectrum that kind of blind consumerism is silly.
- And I mean, I'm almost being silly, but that's what we do.
- Thank you for playing with me and being silly from Caleb.
- Not all of it, but the when he just is silly.
Examples
-
You'll think I'm silly... but maybe, I don't know, you could give me some tips?
Fiction book (1994) -
Surely keeping one by not being silly like that.
-
I could say we're just being silly for Instagram, but this is what's actually happening.
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We can learn from what it did, but we'd be silly to try and just copy it.
-
Don't be silly, my dear.
-
Scarlett felt cold fingers on her spine and told herself not to be silly.
Fiction book (1991) -
Nice to see a Prez who isn't afraid to be silly once in a while.
Blog text (5) -
I walked toward the girls' bedrooms, knowing I was being silly, but needing to see them sleeping soundly in their beds.
Fiction book (1997) -
And I think especially in the middle of discomfort, there's a way to be silly, which is bypassing an actual hard conversation.
-
Let's go outside and be silly for a while; we could play some games and have fun.
Synonyms
46
3.6
Act in a silly, playful way instead of working
40
2.4
To say funny things and behave in a playful way to make people laugh
19
5.1
Act in a playful, joking way without being serious
9
4.8
To act silly and playful to make people laugh
7
4.6
Act in a silly way to make others laugh or avoid being serious
3
8.0
To behave in a silly or embarrassing way to get attention
3
3.5
To act in a careless, playful way instead of doing something important
1
9.9
Act in a foolish, annoying way instead of being serious
1
9.9
To make yourself look foolish by doing or saying silly things
To act in a silly, playful way instead of being serious
Behave in a silly, clumsy way to make people laugh at you
Behave in a silly, clumsy way
To behave foolishly or clumsily
Behave in a silly, careless way to avoid serious talk
To behave in a silly way without thinking when nervous or tired
Behave in a silly, not very smart way
Behave in a silly or foolish way
To behave in a silly, awkward way that looks foolish
Act in a foolish way because you trust people too easily
Act in a silly, embarrassing way
Act in a silly or stupid way
To behave in a stupid and rude way
Antonyms
How Silly
288
4.4
∞
1.6
505
1.3
88
2.1
79
1.6
17
3.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to act in a foolish or playful way' is directly and compositionally derived from the copula 'be' plus the adjective 'silly'; knowing both words allows a learner to infer the predicated state. This is a basic adjective-predicate construction found across languages and thus readily understandable to a B1 learner, despite minor pragmatic nuances (e.g. mild rebuke or joking tone).
Etymology
The phrase be silly gives a simple picture: imagine a child making funny faces or playing and not being serious, so be + silly shows the idea of acting playful or foolish. That's why to be silly means 'to act in a foolish or playful way'.