it was fooled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was fooled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone or something was deceived or tricked. Example: "The magician performed a clever trick, and the audience was so captivated that it was fooled into believing the impossible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Second, the fact that the fingerprint scanner was fooled is important, but so is how it was fooled.

The New York Times

Grant Thornton has said it was fooled by a forged document indicating that Bank of America had confirmed the 3.95 billion euro account.

The New York Times

His system of identifying ringers is considered largely foolproof, though it was fooled at least once, famously, when a veterinarian named Mark Gerard arranged to switch the identities of two Uruguayan horses for a 1977 race at Belmont.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It can be observed that the CMFD is able to recognise the forgery (bottom left), but it is fooled when keypoint removal is applied (bottom centre) since no matches have been found.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

"With 'Breathless,' they said I was respecting the public, and I said I was fooling it.

The New Yorker

It's fooling nobody.

The Guardian

"I mean, it's fooling around," Kirsten said.

The New Yorker

I don't know if it's fooling anyone.

The Guardian

"It's fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me," he said.

The New York Times

It was fool's gold, and Federer had the first set pocketed inside half an hour.

The Guardian - Sport

It was fool's gold and fool's enthusiasm back on the first day of the 2002 Games.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "it was fooled", ensure the subject ('it') is clearly defined and its role as the deceived entity is unambiguous. For example, "The security system seemed impenetrable, but in the end, it was fooled by a simple bypass code."

Common error

Avoid using "it was fooled" when the subject "it" is unclear or ambiguous in the context. This can lead to confusion and weaken the clarity of your writing. Always specify what "it" refers to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was fooled" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject (represented by "it") underwent the action of being deceived. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was fooled" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to indicate that something has been successfully deceived or tricked. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, it appears across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources. When using this phrase, ensure the subject is clear to avoid ambiguity. Consider using synonyms like "it was deceived" or "it was tricked" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was deceived

Replaces "fooled" with a more formal synonym, "deceived", maintaining the passive voice and the core meaning of being tricked.

it was tricked

Substitutes "fooled" with "tricked", offering a more informal and direct synonym while retaining the passive construction.

it was duped

Replaces "fooled" with "duped", suggesting a successful deception, and maintains the passive voice.

it was misled

Changes "fooled" to "misled", implying guidance in the wrong direction rather than outright trickery, while staying in passive voice.

it was hoodwinked

Uses "hoodwinked" in place of "fooled", indicating a clever deception; passive voice is preserved.

it fell for the trick

Shifts to an active voice construction, indicating that 'it' became the subject that succumbed to deception.

it was taken in

Employs the phrasal verb "taken in" to replace "fooled", conveying the idea of being deceived or convinced of something false.

it succumbed to deception

Presents a more formal and elaborate alternative, highlighting the act of giving in to deceit.

it was outsmarted

Suggests that 'it' was defeated through superior intelligence or cunning, rather than merely tricked.

it underestimated the deceit

Indicates a failure to recognize the extent of deception, implying a misjudgment rather than direct trickery.

FAQs

What does "it was fooled" mean?

The phrase "it was fooled" means that something or someone was tricked or deceived into believing something that is not true. It implies a successful act of deception.

What can I say instead of "it was fooled"?

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

Is "it was fooled" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it was fooled" is grammatically correct. It uses the passive voice, indicating that 'it' was the recipient of the action of being fooled.

How can I use "it was fooled" in a sentence?

You can use "it was fooled" to describe a situation where something was tricked, like "The sophisticated algorithm seemed infallible, but "it was fooled" by a cleverly designed input."