we were fooled

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "We were fooled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this sentence to refer to a situation in which someone was tricked or taken advantage of. For example, "We were fooled into thinking the ticket prices were lower than they actually were."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

We were fooled.

The New Yorker

I think we were fooled by penicillin.

The New Yorker

They can't be fooled, like we were fooled in the old days.

The Guardian

It seems we were fooled by his affable ich bin Amerikaner manners.

The New Yorker

"We were fooled," said another team member, Dr. Steven Vogt, an astronomer at Santa Cruz.

The New York Times

"We were fooled by Oslo," he said, referring to the treaty signed in 1993 that was to lead to an independent Palestinian state.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"It wasn't like we were fooling ourselves," Mr. Gonzalez said.

The New York Times

We were fooling around, but I wasn't really enjoying it.

The New York Times

We are fooled because these symbols resemble roman letters and are grouped like words.

Princeton University

We are fooled by the very effects we think we see through.

The Guardian

But, like the people she hopes to convince, we are fooled, albeit temporarily.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were fooled" to express a collective realization of having been deceived or tricked. Ensure the context clarifies who "we" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "we were fooled" when the deception only affected a specific subset of a larger group. Be specific about who experienced the deception to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were fooled" functions as a statement expressing a past collective experience of being deceived or tricked. It's a declarative statement indicating a realization or admission of having been misled, as supported by Ludwig and its examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were fooled" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey a shared understanding of having been deceived. According to Ludwig, it's found frequently in News & Media and academic contexts. While variations such as "we were deceived" or "we were tricked" can be used for nuanced meanings, the core idea remains the same: a group acknowledges having been misled. Therefore, ensure clarity about who "we" refers to and consider the specific context to choose the most appropriate expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were deceived

Indicates a deliberate act of misleading, similar to being fooled.

we were tricked

Suggests a cunning or deceptive action that led to being fooled.

we were misled

Implies that inaccurate or incomplete information led to a false belief.

we were duped

Highlights the naivety or gullibility in being fooled.

we were hoodwinked

Indicates being deceived in a sly and cunning manner.

we were taken advantage of

Focuses on the exploitation aspect of being fooled.

we fell for it

A more informal way of saying we were fooled, implying acceptance of a deception.

we were played

Suggests manipulation, as if being used in a game.

we were conned

Emphasizes the fraudulent nature of the deception.

we were bamboozled

A more playful and less serious way of saying we were fooled.

FAQs

What does "we were fooled" mean?

The phrase "we were fooled" indicates that a group of people (represented by "we") were tricked or deceived into believing something that was not true. It implies a sense of realization or regret about the deception.

How can I use "we were fooled" in a sentence?

You can use "we were fooled" to express a collective understanding of having been deceived. For example, "Looking back, "we were fooled" by their promises of quick profits."

What can I say instead of "we were fooled"?

You can use alternatives like "we were deceived", "we were tricked", or "we were misled" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "we were fooled by" grammatically correct?

Yes, "we were fooled by" is grammatically correct. It indicates the agent or cause of the deception. For example, "We were fooled by their elaborate scheme."