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🏠 To give shelter ✂️ To make smaller 🧠 To understand 🌱 To absorb 🏙️ To visit 💵 To earn 🕵️ To deceive 🍽️ To eat or drink
to take in

to take in

23 4.3
Make someone believe something that is not true
  • phrasal verb
  • /teɪk ɪn/
  • Informal
translation icon : engañar
  • She was completely taken in by the scam and lost her savings.

Who would dare claim that these leading investors were being taken in by a fraudulent CEO?

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Examples

  • Others were taken in by the good people of Memphis.

    Remember the Sultana (2015)

  • "Let's not be taken in by the blue skies," Jack said to her.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Mind they do not take you in, Thomas!

    A Man for All Seasons (1966)

  • You think we're all taken in by your grand ideas?

    Fiction book (2000)

  • "Who would be fool enough to be taken in by one as hopeless as that?

    Fiction book (2001)

  • You have a very trusting nature and are easily taken in by so- called friends.

    V/H/S (2012)

  • Who would dare claim that these leading investors were being taken in by a fraudulent CEO?

    Patrick Boyle

  • Despite her pride, the nun could feel herself being taken in by the girl's divine beauty.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Very smart people are often the most credulous and are taken in by all kinds of phenomena.

    Red Lights (2012)

  • Surely you aren't taken in by that silly cover story they're spreading?

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

to fool
vsto take in
704 2.1

To trick someone into believing something that is not true

is the same act but defined only by causing false belief
to deceive
vsto take in
270 3.9

To make someone believe something that is not true to get an advantage

is focused on causing false belief without implying personal benefit
to dupe
vsto take in
58 6.4

To trick someone into believing something false

causes false belief without focusing on clever technique
to delude
vsto take in
48 6.3

Make someone believe something that is not true

refers more simply to causing someone to believe something untrue
to put on
vsto take in
  • Informal
19 7.2

To trick someone, often as a joke

can be serious deception rather than playful joking
to put one over
vsto take in
  • Informal
4 7.8

To make someone believe something that is not true

covers making someone believe untruths but not necessarily overcoming doubts
to gull
vsto take in
1 8.9

To trick someone into believing something false

makes someone believe something untrue without stressing personal gain
to put one across
vsto take in
  • UK
9.0

Make someone believe something false to trick them

means causing belief in untruths without implying persuasion methods
to put one past
vsto take in
  • UK
8.3

To trick someone into believing something false

is the act of causing belief rather than stressing secrecy or success
to befool
vsto take in
9.9

To trick someone so they look silly

causes false belief without intending to make someone appear foolish
to cod
vsto take in
  • UK
8.8

To trick someone as a joke

may be a serious trick aimed at creating real false belief

Antonyms

to reveal
∞ 2.3

Show something that was hidden or secret

to enlighten
55 4.8

To give someone clear information to help them understand something

How Deceptive

to deceive
270 3.9
to take in
  • Informal
23 4.3
to trick
326 3.5
to mislead
87 3.9

Surface Forms

take in infinitive
taking in present participle
takes in third person singular
took in past
taken in past participle

Morphology

take + in

The phrasal verb 'take in' here uses take (to receive/bring) + in (into/within) to mean 'absorb or experience' — as in 'take in the sights' = 'see/absorb the attractions'. The connection is metaphorical and relies on particle-verb usage that is not fully compositional or universally predictable for B1 learners, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Take in (deceive) paints the picture of leading someone 'in' to a story or place where they are fooled, as if you have taken their trust into your hands. So the phrase means 'to trick or deceive' someone.