we were fooled by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were fooled by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where someone was deceived or misled by someone or something. Example: "We were fooled by the magician's clever tricks, believing that his illusions were real."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I think we were fooled by penicillin.

The New Yorker

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

The New Yorker

"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

"It is not acceptable tonight - maybe we were fooled by two wins in a row and now we have to make sure we get points against Stoke at home".

BBC

Leonhardt recently recanted his skepticism about Trump's effectiveness, "We were fooled by history.

HuffPost

"Yes, we were fooled by a scammer, but the joke was on him," said Kesler.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

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

The Guardian

Or could we be fooled by something more ordinary, such as a microwave oven on the Earth?

University of California, Berkeley

Nor should we be fooled by the "Bullingdon club boys" currently running the Tory party: they are as nasty as Michael Howard's lot, just better looking.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Under no circumstances should we be fooled by his sweet talk," said the army's newspaper, Liberation Army Daily, in a front-page editorial.

The New York Times

Nor should we be fooled by the notion that the new proposals amount to a vastly watered-down version of the plans Ms May sought to bring forward during the last parliament and which were stymied by the Liberal Democrats.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were fooled by" to express a shared experience of being deceived or misled, especially when highlighting a collective misjudgment or a systemic issue.

Common error

Avoid using "we were fooled by" when you simply made an honest mistake or miscalculation. "Fooled" implies deception, while a mistake is unintentional. For instance, instead of "we were fooled by the data", say "we misinterpreted the data" if there was no deliberate misleading information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were fooled by" functions as a statement expressing a collective experience of being deceived or misled. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were fooled by" is a grammatically correct and relatively common expression used to convey a collective experience of deception or being misled. Ludwig AI confirms this. It typically appears in neutral to slightly critical contexts, such as news reports, academic discussions, and personal reflections. The primary function is to acknowledge a shared misjudgment and express disappointment or realization. When using this phrase, ensure that the context genuinely involves deception rather than a simple mistake. Related alternatives include "we were deceived by" and "we were misled by".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were deceived by

Focuses on the act of being intentionally misled.

we were misled by

Emphasizes being guided in the wrong direction, whether intentional or not.

we were tricked by

Highlights the use of cunning or deception to fool someone.

we were hoodwinked by

Suggests a more elaborate and deceptive scheme.

we were duped by

Implies being easily fooled or taken advantage of.

we fell for

A more casual way of saying we were deceived, often implying naivety.

we were taken in by

Suggests being charmed or persuaded into believing something false.

we misjudged

Indicates an error in assessment or understanding, without necessarily implying deception.

we underestimated

Focuses on failing to recognize the true extent or nature of something.

we were blindsided by

Highlights the unexpected and surprising nature of the deception.

FAQs

What does "we were fooled by" mean?

The phrase "we were fooled by" means that a group of people were deceived or tricked into believing something that was not true. It implies that someone or something intentionally misled them.

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

You can use alternatives like "we were deceived by", "we were misled by", or "we were tricked by", depending on the specific context and the nature of the deception.

Is it correct to say "we were fooled by"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. Ludwig AI also confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

How to use "we were fooled by" in a sentence?

Use "we were fooled by" when you want to express that a group of people were deceived or tricked by someone or something. For example, "We were fooled by the politician's promises during the campaign."