has fooled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has fooled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has deceived or tricked another person in the present perfect tense, suggesting that the action has relevance to the present. Example: "She has fooled everyone into believing her story was true."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

"The government has fooled society.

The Guardian - Business

Frank Mancuso has fooled them all.

The New York Times

This "theatre of enthusiasm" has fooled almost everyone.

The Economist

Johnson has fooled a huge electorate with pure jawjaw.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The referendum vote has fooled nobody," the British foreign secretary, William Hague, said in Brussels.

The New York Times

"Our camaraderie has fooled me into thinking of my fellow strangers as a lifeline.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

"Could have fooled me.

The New Yorker

"We may have fooled ourselves".

The New York Times

But you could have fooled me.

The New York Times

I could have fooled most people.

The New York Times

Well, you could have fooled me.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has fooled" when you want to emphasize that someone has successfully deceived or tricked another person, and the effects of that deception are still relevant.

Common error

While "has fooled" is widely understood, it can sound too informal in academic or professional writing. Consider more precise alternatives like "has deceived" or "has misled" for a more appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has fooled" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It indicates a completed action in the past that has a connection to the present. Ludwig examples show its usage in various contexts, from political commentary to entertainment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Arts

15%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has fooled" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to indicate that someone has successfully deceived another. While versatile, Ludwig suggests considering more formal alternatives like "has deceived" or "has misled" in certain contexts. Its usage is particularly frequent in news and media, arts, and sports reporting. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is widely recognized and easily understood, making it a useful addition to one's vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has deceived

More formal and direct, implies intentional misleading.

has tricked

Similar to "has fooled" but suggests a clever or cunning deception.

has misled

Implies unintentional or indirect deception.

has misled someone

Emphasizes the action of leading astray.

has hoodwinked

Suggests a more elaborate and often financially motivated deception.

has duped

Implies that the person fooled was naive or easily tricked.

has deceived everyone

Highlights the extent of the deception.

has taken in

A more idiomatic way of saying someone was deceived.

has outwitted

Implies that the person doing the fooling was more clever than the one fooled.

has bamboozled

Informal and humorous way of saying someone has been fooled.

FAQs

What does "has fooled" mean?

"Has fooled" means someone has successfully deceived or tricked another person, with the result of that deception being relevant in the present.

What can I say instead of "has fooled"?

You can use alternatives like "has deceived", "has tricked", or "has misled" depending on the context.

Is "has fooled" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "has fooled" may be considered too informal for academic or professional writing. Consider more formal alternatives like "has deceived" or "has misled".

How to use "has fooled" in a sentence?

Use "has fooled" to indicate a past action of deceiving that has current relevance. For example, "The marketing campaign has fooled many consumers into buying the product".