become a fool

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become a fool" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a situation where someone acts foolishly or makes unwise decisions. Example: "In his quest for popularity, he seemed to become a fool, disregarding his true friends and values."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"How ill white hairs become a fool and jester!" Shakespeare has Hal, newly crowned, announce of Falstaff.

The New Yorker

Which goes to show that while he may have become a blabbermouth, he didn't become a fool.

The New York Times

Mr. Keogh never lets McLane become a fool; at the same time he never lets McLane see himself the way he sometimes lets the audience see him.

The New York Times

Büchner expressed it in a letter in 1834: "I despise nobody, least of all because of their intellect or education because nobody can determine not to become a fool or criminal".

The Guardian

Over the last couple of years, Apple and its competitors have fought so many patent cases against one another in so many courts that keeping score has nearly become a fool's errand.

The New York Times - Tech

For those of us who are libertarian in 2009, our education culminates with the knowledge that the broader education of the body politic has become a fool's errand".

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The carefully crafted spectacle of the presidential election with its nail-biting primaries, mud-slinging debates, caucuses, super-delegates, popular votes and electoral colleges has become a fool-proof exercise in how to persuade a gullible citizenry into believing that their votes matter.

Huffington Post

Untangling where optimization ends and innovation begins – and vice versa – becomes a fool's errand.

Harvard Business Review

As social media, disposable sensors, smarter phones, machine learning platforms, savvy consumer activists, self-quantification and the "internet of things" accelerate into the economic mainstream, betting billions on the stupidity of one's customers becomes a fool's errand.

Harvard Business Review

Only the lucky few get rich running a business, you need a lot more than passion to make it work, and, in my experience, the search for so-called life/work balance becomes a fool's errand.

HuffPost

Convincing the world to go to war with Iraq -- again -- became a fool's errand, a 'march of folly' that began with a decade-long war, and a second front on the 'War on Terror' that destabilized Iraq, re-ignited the hatred of hardcore Islamic fighters toward the West, and opened old wounds between the Sunni Muslims, the Shiites, and Kurdish factions.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "become a fool", consider the context and whether a more specific verb like "act", "behave", or "turn" might provide a more nuanced meaning.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "become a fool" can sound informal or overly harsh in professional contexts. Opt for phrases like "make an error in judgment" or "act unwisely" for a more appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become a fool" functions as a verb phrase within a sentence. It typically serves as the predicate, describing a change in state or condition, indicating that someone is transforming or progressing into a state of foolishness. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The expression "become a fool" is a common verb phrase used to describe the process of someone transitioning into a state of foolishness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media contexts. While offering a clear way to criticize actions, it might sound too informal for professional environments where alternatives like "make an error in judgment" or "act unwisely" may be more suitable. Understanding the subtle nuances of this phrase will help you use it effectively and appropriately in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turn into a fool

Focuses on the transformation into a state of foolishness.

act like a fool

Emphasizes the behavior and actions that characterize foolishness.

make a fool of oneself

Highlights the self-inflicted nature of the foolish act.

behave foolishly

A more general term indicating foolish behavior.

descend into folly

Suggests a gradual decline into foolishness, often with negative consequences.

lapse into absurdity

Implies a shift into nonsensical or irrational behavior.

fall into foolishness

Describes an unintentional entry into a state of being foolish.

play the fool

Suggests deliberately acting foolish, often for entertainment.

show oneself a fool

Highlights the revealing of one's foolishness to others.

render oneself ridiculous

Emphasizes the outcome of actions that make someone appear foolish.

FAQs

How can I use "become a fool" in a sentence?

You can use "become a fool" to describe someone who is acting foolishly. For instance, "He risked everything and "became a fool" in the eyes of his colleagues".

What are some alternatives to "become a fool"?

Alternatives include phrases like "act like a fool", "make a fool of oneself", or "behave foolishly", which offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

Is it better to say "become a fool" or "turn into a fool"?

Both "become a fool" and "turn into a fool" are grammatically correct and widely understood. The choice depends on stylistic preference, as they convey essentially the same meaning.

What's the difference between "become a fool" and "being foolish"?

"Become a fool" implies a transition into a state of foolishness, whereas "being foolish" simply describes the current state. The former suggests a change, while the latter is a general description.