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Glite Dictionary
to play (someone) for a fool

to play (someone) for a fool

7 7.4
Treat someone as stupid to trick or cheat them
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : tomar por tonto
  • I can't believe you would try to play me for a fool with that ridiculous lie.
  • trying to play me for a fool
  • a guy's playing you for a fool

Examples

Synonyms

to play
vsto play (someone) for a fool
∞ 2.5

Behave in a way to trick or amuse someone

specifically expects the other person to be naive and uses that belief
to fool
vsto play (someone) for a fool
704 2.1

To trick someone into believing something that is not true

adds the specific attitude of thinking the person is naive or gullible
to trick
vsto play (someone) for a fool
326 3.5

To make someone believe something false so you can get what you want

adds the idea of targeting what seems like a naive or simple person
to deceive
vsto play (someone) for a fool
270 3.9

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

emphasizes judging the person as naive before trying to benefit from them
to mislead
vsto play (someone) for a fool
87 3.9

Make someone believe something that is not true

differs by presuming the person is naive and exploiting that presumption
to con
vsto play (someone) for a fool
  • Informal
61 7.3

To trick someone into giving their money or things

shares deception for gain but stresses preassumed naivety of the victim
to delude
vsto play (someone) for a fool
48 6.3

Make someone believe something that is not true

focuses more on targeting those deemed naive or easily convinced
to sucker
vsto play (someone) for a fool
  • Informal
26 6.0

To trick someone into doing something

is about expecting naivety first and then taking advantage
to bamboozle
vsto play (someone) for a fool
  • Informal
11 8.3

To trick someone by pretending you want to help them

is more about seeing someone as naive and then exploiting that belief
to pull a fast one on
vsto play (someone) for a fool
  • Informal
5 8.1

To trick someone to gain an advantage

instead relies on judging the person as naive before deceiving them
to try to scam
vsto play (someone) for a fool
  • Informal
5 5.8

Attempt to trick someone and take their money

is similar but stresses assuming the person is naive rather than only profit
to put one over on
vsto play (someone) for a fool
  • Informal
4 7.9

To trick someone into believing something false

adds that the deceiver treats the person as naive or gullible
to put one over
vsto play (someone) for a fool
  • Informal
4 7.8

To make someone believe something that is not true

specifically expects the person to be inexperienced or easily fooled
to make a monkey out of
vsto play (someone) for a fool
  • Offensive
3 8.4

Make someone look silly in front of other people by tricking or embarrassing them

assumes the person is naive and aims to take advantage of them
to play false
vsto play (someone) for a fool
1 8.1

To trick someone who trusts you by hiding your real plans to get something for yourself

is similar but highlights assuming the target is unintelligent before acting
to play like a violin
vsto play (someone) for a fool
  • Informal
9.0

To trick someone easily so you can get what you want

focuses on believing the target is naive rather than skillful manipulation
to befool
vsto play (someone) for a fool
9.9

To trick someone so they look silly

assumes the target is naive and aims to profit from that view
to con someone
vsto play (someone) for a fool
  • Slang
7.7

To trick someone to get their money

adds the sense of presuming the person is naive before exploiting them
to put one across
vsto play (someone) for a fool
  • UK
9.0

Make someone believe something false to trick them

assumes ignorance or naivety as the reason the person is targeted

How Deceptive

to dupe
58 6.4
to play (someone) for a fool
  • Offensive
7 7.4
to fool
704 2.1
to mislead
87 3.9

Surface Forms

play (someone) for a fool infinitive
played (someone) for a fool past
played (someone) for a fool past participle
playing (someone) for a fool present participle
plays (someone) for a fool third person singular

Morphology

play + (someone) + for + a + fool

The meaning 'to deceive or treat someone as naive' is directly derivable from combining 'play' (to manipulate/deceive) with the prepositional phrase 'for a fool' (as if the person were gullible). This compositional pattern (treat X as Y) is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings should infer the MWE's sense.

Etymology

The phrase play someone for a fool comes from the image of one person playing another like an actor in a cruel joke, making them look like a fool in front of others. So, it means 'to trick or take advantage of someone by making them seem stupid'.