idiot: You're an idiot!
dunce: Michael may have been a dunce at mathematics, but he was gifted at languages.
dolt: He's a first-class dolt who insists on doing things his way. VERB 3
deceive: He has deceived and disillusioned us all.
trick: Stephen is going to be pretty upset when he finds out how you tricked him.
mislead: Jack was furious with his London doctors for having misled him.
dupe: …a plot to dupe stamp collectors into buying fake rarities.
fool|hardy /fuː lhɑː r di/ ADJ If you describe behaviour as foolhardy , you disapprove of it because it is extremely risky. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ When he tested an early vaccine on himself, some described the act as foolhardy.
fool|ish /fuː l I ʃ/
1 ADJ If someone's behaviour or action is foolish , it is not sensible and shows a lack of good judgment. □ It would be foolish to raise hopes unnecessarily. □ It is foolish to risk skin cancer. ● fool|ish|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ He admitted that he had acted foolishly. ● fool|ish|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ They don't accept any foolishness when it comes to spending money.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you look or feel foolish , you look or feel so silly or ridiculous that people are likely to laugh at you. □ I didn't want him to look foolish and be laughed at. ● fool|ish|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ He saw me standing there, grinning foolishly at him.
fool|proof /fuː lpruːf/ ADJ Something such as a plan or a machine that is foolproof is so well designed, easy to understand, or easy to use that it cannot go wrong or be used wrongly. □ The system is not 100 per cent foolproof. □ I spent the day working out a foolproof plan to save him.
fools|cap /fuː lzkæp/ N‑UNCOUNT Foolscap is paper which is about 34 centimetres by 43 centimetres in size. [mainly BRIT ]
foo l's go ld
1 N‑UNCOUNT Fool's gold is a substance that is found in rock and that looks very like gold.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that a plan for getting money is fool's gold , you mean that it is foolish to carry it out because you are sure that it will fail or cause problems. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The British establishment seems to be off on another quest for fool's gold.
foo l's pa ra|dise N‑SING If you say that someone is living in a fool's paradise , you are criticizing them because they are not aware that their present happy situation is likely to change and get worse. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …living in a fool's paradise of false prosperity.
foot ◆◆◆ /fʊ t/ (feet )
1 N‑COUNT Your feet are the parts of your body that are at the ends of your legs, and that you stand on. □ She stamped her foot again. □ …a foot injury. □ …his aching arms and sore feet. ● -footed COMB □ She was bare-footed. □ …pink-footed geese.
2 N‑SING The foot of something is the part that is farthest from its top. □ [+ of ] David called to the children from the foot of the stairs. □ [+ of ] A single word at the foot of a page caught her eye.
3 N‑SING The foot of a bed is the end nearest to the feet of the person lying in it. □ [+ of ] Friends stood at the foot of the bed, looking at her with serious faces.
4 N‑COUNT A foot is a unit for measuring length, height, or depth, and is equal to 12 inches or 30.48 centimetres. When you are giving measurements, the form 'foot' is often used as the plural instead of the plural form 'feet'. □ This beautiful and curiously shaped lake lies at around fifteen thousand feet. □ He occupies a cell 10 foot long, 6 foot wide and 10 foot high. □ I have to give my height in feet and inches.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] A foot brake or foot pump is operated by your foot rather than by your hand. □ I tried to reach the foot brakes but I couldn't.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] A foot patrol or foot soldiers walk rather than travelling in vehicles or on horseback. □ Paratroopers and foot-soldiers entered the building on the government's behalf.
7 → see also footing
8 PHRASE If you get cold feet about something, you become nervous or frightened about it because you think it will fail. □ [+ about ] The Government is getting cold feet about the reforms.
9 PHRASE If you say that someone is finding their feet in a new situation, you mean that they are starting to feel confident and to deal with things successfully. □ I don't know anyone in England but I am sure I will manage when I find my feet.
10 PHRASE If you say that someone has their feet on the ground , you approve of the fact that they have a sensible and practical attitude towards life, and do not have unrealistic ideas. [APPROVAL ] □ In that respect he needs to keep his feet on the ground and not get carried away. □ Kevin was always level-headed with both feet on the ground.
11 PHRASE If you go somewhere on foot , you walk, rather than using any form of transport. □ We rowed ashore, then explored the island on foot for the rest of the day.
12 PHRASE If you are on your feet , you are standing up. □ Everyone was on their feet applauding wildly.
13 PHRASE If you say that someone or something is on their feet again after an illness or difficult period, you mean that they have recovered and are back to normal. □ He said they all needed to work together to put the country on its feet again.
14 PHRASE If you say that someone always falls or lands on their feet , you mean that they are always successful or lucky, although they do not seem to achieve this by their own efforts. □ He has good looks and charm, and always falls on his feet.