trick us

USAGE SUMMARY

"trick us" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express that someone has misled you or fooled you. For example, "The salesman tried to trick us into buying a more expensive model than we wanted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Mauboussin and Callahan said that to overcome this, humans have to learn when patterns are useful, and when they trick us.

Independent

Shame on you, Apple, for trying to trick us into your little scheme that will FORCE us to use the most popular earbuds in the universe.

TechCrunch

And trick us you did, Mr. Kwong.

The New York Times

Not embellish, not trick us with irony.

The New York Times

How did we let that fluky start trick us?

The New York Times

"People will try and trick us," he said.

The New York Times

"Anthony de Rauville is trying to trick us.

The Guardian - Sport

But we have to know that they are trying to trick us".

Independent

"What if our expectations trick us into a false sense of security?" he asks.

The New York Times - Books

Annoyingly, the articles are undated, as if to trick us into acknowledging their timelessness.

The New York Times - Books

The voices in our head trick us into confirming our stupidity.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trick us", ensure the context clearly indicates who is attempting to deceive and what the intended outcome of the deception is. For instance, specify whether it's an individual, a company, or a system trying to "trick us".

Common error

Avoid using "trick us" when the situation involves a simple mistake or misunderstanding. This phrase implies intent, so ensure the situation involves deliberate deception. If there's no intent to deceive, consider using phrases like "mislead us" or "confuse us" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trick us" functions as a verb phrase used to express an action performed on a group. Ludwig AI confirms it's a usable phrase. Examples show it describing attempts to deceive or mislead.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trick us" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe attempts to deceive or mislead a group of people. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is usable in various contexts, with a strong prevalence in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, it carries a connotation of betrayal or manipulation. When using "trick us", ensure clarity about the deceiver and intended outcome. Consider synonyms like "deceive us" or "mislead us" depending on the context. Be mindful of the implication of intent when employing the phrase. Overall, "trick us" serves as a potent way to call attention to situations where deception is at play.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deceive us

A more formal and direct synonym for "trick us".

fool us

Implies making someone look ridiculous through deception, similar to "trick us" but with a stronger emphasis on the outcome.

mislead us

Suggests guiding someone in the wrong direction, often unintentionally, whereas "trick us" implies a deliberate act.

dupe us

A more archaic term for "trick us", implying that the target is gullible.

hoodwink us

Implies deceiving someone by elaborate means.

outwit us

Suggests defeating someone through superior cunning, rather than outright deception.

beguile us

Implies charming someone into being deceived.

take advantage of us

Focuses on the exploitation aspect, where someone is unfairly benefiting at the expense of others.

play us for fools

Highlights the perception of being manipulated and made to look foolish.

pull the wool over our eyes

An idiomatic expression that means to deceive or mislead someone.

FAQs

How can I use "trick us" in a sentence?

You can use "trick us" to indicate that someone is attempting to deceive or mislead a group. For example: "The advertisement tried to "trick us" into believing the product was more effective than it actually was."

What's a formal alternative to "trick us"?

A more formal alternative to "trick us" is "deceive us". This option is suitable for professional or academic contexts.

How does "trick us" differ from "mislead us"?

"Trick us" implies a deliberate attempt to deceive, while "mislead us" can refer to unintentional guidance in the wrong direction. The former involves intent, the latter doesn't always.

What are some common synonyms for "trick us"?

Common synonyms for "trick us" include "fool us", "dupe us", and "hoodwink us". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.