play the fool

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Screenwriter/director Cord Jefferson’s adaptation of real USC English professor Percival Everett’s novel “Erasure” affords Emmy-winner Wright endless opportunities to highlight the intelligence he always brings to his work, as well as to play the fool.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 4, 2024

"I am pleading with you. Let us not take this hurricane lightly. This is not the time to play the fool."

From Fox News • Jul. 2, 2021

But unlike those people, she also seems happy to play the fool herself when it suits her aims.

From Slate • Feb. 19, 2020

You then play the fool and say you can’t access a website where you normally could have, and that it’s important to access it for an angry client.

From The Guardian • Jul. 24, 2018

But after a while he became convinced that if he was ever going to do anything in Milagro besides vegetate and play the fool, he needed mobility.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols