they were not fooled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were not fooled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone was aware of the truth and did not fall for a deception or trick. Example: "Despite the elaborate scheme, they were not fooled and quickly saw through the lies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

They were not fooled.

The New York Times

Italians who voted for Berlusconi in 1994, 2001 and 2008 have been quick to say they were not fooled by empty promises.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"They were not fooling around just to grow rich and make money," he said, "but offering children the best possibilities to improve their skills".

The New York Times

They weren't fooled by such false clues.

The Guardian

To not even bother to laugh at the feeble Twitter arguments of those convincing themselves that they weren't fooled.

TechCrunch

They weren't fooled even though so many of their ancestors are so often willingly fooled.

Huffington Post

"They're not fooled," he said.

The New York Times

The Nets (16-9) may own the better record, but when they see the Lakers at 10-16, they are not fooled.

The New York Times - Sports

They are not fooled by the presence of the United Nations and words from the West about a commitment to peace.

The New York Times

Mak's wife tries to convince them that it's a changeling, but they're not fooled.

The Guardian - Books

They are not fooled by the combative persona, the lawyer prosecuting his case in pursuit of a more balanced and profitable league.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were not fooled" to emphasize a group's collective understanding and resistance to deception. It works well when highlighting a shared awareness.

Common error

Avoid using "they were not fooled" when referring to individual understanding. It is best suited for scenarios involving groups or entities acting collectively. For individual instances, consider alternatives such as "he/she was not fooled."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were not fooled" functions as a declarative statement, asserting that a group of individuals possessed the discernment to avoid being deceived. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is usable in written English. It can be modified to emphasize the object of the deception e.g., "they were not fooled by the scheme."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were not fooled" effectively conveys a group's ability to recognize and avoid deception. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, denoting a neutral register. While grammatically sound and widely understood, the phrase is best used when referring to collective awareness. Alternatives such as "they saw through it" or "they weren't deceived" offer nuanced ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they saw through it

Focuses on the act of understanding the deception.

they weren't deceived

Highlights the lack of successful deception.

they weren't tricked

Emphasizes the failure of a trick or scheme.

they were not taken in

Similar to "deceived", focusing on the lack of success in misleading them.

they were aware of the deception

Directly states their knowledge of the deceptive act.

they recognized the ruse

Uses a more formal word ("ruse") to describe the deception.

they knew better

Implies that their understanding surpassed the attempted deception.

they weren't having it

An informal way of saying they rejected the deception.

they were wise to their game

Focuses on understanding the other party's intentions or motives.

they weren't buying it

Informal expression indicating disbelief or rejection of a claim.

FAQs

What does "they were not fooled" mean?

The phrase "they were not fooled" means that a group of people understood a deception or trick and did not fall for it. It indicates awareness and resistance to being misled.

How can I use "they were not fooled" in a sentence?

You can use "they were not fooled" to describe a situation where a group recognized a deceptive act. For example: "Despite the elaborate scheme, "they were not fooled" and quickly saw through the lies."

What can I say instead of "they were not fooled"?

You can use alternatives like "they saw through it", "they weren't deceived", or "they recognized the ruse" depending on the context.

Is "they weren't fooled" the same as "they were not fooled"?

"They weren't fooled" and "they were not fooled" have the same meaning. The first option is a contraction of the second, making it slightly less formal but equally valid.