foolish
gb/fˈulɪʃ/ us/fˈulɪʃ/
B1
English
~ 2100
buta, ostoba, észszerűtlen, esztelen, meggondolatlan, oktalan, bolondos, bohókás, idétlen
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is foolish
It was foolish to go hiking without checking the weather.
Ostobaság volt úgy túrázni indulni, hogy előtte nem néztük meg az időjárást.
She felt foolish after forgetting his name again.
Ostobának érezte magát, miután megint elfelejtette a nevét.
He made a foolish investment and lost all his savings.
Don't be foolish—wear a helmet when you cycle.
Learner examples
It is foolish to run in the street.
Ostobaság az utcán rohangálni.
He made a foolish mistake in the test.
Ostoba hibát követett el a dolgozatban.
I was foolish to forget my keys.
She is foolish to spend all her money.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'foolish' with 'funny'. 'Foolish' means lacking sense, not making people laugh.
Meaning
Lacking good sense or judgment
Collocations
foolish decision
|foolish mistake
|foolish idea
|foolish choice
Synonyms
silly (Often lighter and more playful; can imply harmlessness.)
|
unwise (Suggests a serious lack of wisdom or foresight.)
Antonyms
wise (Shows good sense and judgment.)
|
sensible (Acting with practical and reasonable thinking.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|behavior
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not showing good thinking or making bad choices.
Showing a lack of good sense, judgment, or wisdom.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is foolish with [someone]
He gave her a foolish grin before running away.
Bolondos vigyort vetett rá, aztán elszaladt.
They were being foolish and laughing loudly in the library.
Butáskodtak, és hangosan nevettek a könyvtárban.
She made a foolish face to cheer up the baby.
Learner examples
The children were foolish at the party.
A gyerekek bolondoztak a bulin.
He made a foolish face for the camera.
Idétlen arcot vágott a kamerának.
She is foolish when she plays with her dog.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the negative meaning of 'foolish'. Here it is more lighthearted and not critical.
Meaning
Silly in a harmless, playful way
Collocations
foolish grin
|foolish behavior
|foolish games
Synonyms
goofy (Informal; silly in an endearing way.)
|
playful (Lighthearted and fun, without serious intent.)
Antonyms
serious (Acting with seriousness and purpose.)
|
sensible (Acting with reason and care.)
Themes
emotions
|social
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Acting in a silly or playful way.
Behaving in a lighthearted or silly way that is not meant seriously.
Grammar
Dictionary form
foolish
IPA
GB/fˈulɪʃ/
US/fˈulɪʃ/
Syllables & stress
fool - ish (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fool)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: foolish
Word family
Expressions
act the fool
1/ˈækt ðə fˈul/
idiom
Behave as if lacking sense for amusement or attention
To behave in a silly way to get attention or make people laugh.
Examples
- He was acting the fool to impress his friends.
- They acted the fool during class and got into trouble.
fools rush in (where angels fear to tread)
1/fˈulz ɹˈʌʃ ˈɪn wˈɛɹ ˈeɪnd͡ʒəlz fˈɪɹ tə tɹˈɛd/
idiom
Inexperienced act without caution
People without experience often do things quickly without thinking, when wiser people would be careful.
Examples
- He volunteered to fix the roof without any training—fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
- Starting a business without research is a case of fools rushing in.
make a fool of oneself
1/mˈeɪk ə fˈul əv wˌʌnsˈɛlf/
idiom
Embarrass oneself by acting silly or stupid
To do something that makes you look silly or stupid to others.
Examples
- I made a fool of myself by forgetting my speech.
- She doesn't want to make a fool of herself on stage.
play the fool
1/plˈeɪ ðə fˈul/
idiom
Behave in a silly way for fun
To act silly so people laugh or are entertained.
Examples
- Stop playing the fool and help me clean up.
- He often plays the fool to make his friends laugh.
- He enjoys playing the fool at parties to make people laugh.
- She played the fool in meetings so people would underestimate her.