we were had

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were had" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express that someone has been deceived or tricked in some way. Example: "After realizing the truth about the scam, I felt embarrassed that we were had by such a simple con."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

TechCrunch

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"But after we were had to take Ramsey and Flamini off, it was too much for us to hope that we could score six.

Independent

"After we were had to take Ramsey and Flamini off, it was too much for us to hope we could score six," he said.

Independent

"I was told by investors if we were had moved from Newport Beach to Silicon Valley, we would have raised twice as much and sold for lots more".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

We were having spaghetti.

The New York Times

We were having terrific fun.

The New Yorker

We were having fun, too".

The New York Times

We were having success," Gathitu said.

Independent

We were having a Greek eurozone crisis".

Independent

"There we were, having caviar before.

The New Yorker

We were having a moment there".

The New Yorker

"We were having so much fun together".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were had" to succinctly express that a group was successfully deceived or tricked. It is particularly effective when highlighting a shared experience of being outsmarted.

Common error

Avoid using "we were had" in active voice constructions. The phrase is inherently passive, so attempting to use it actively (e.g., "We had them") changes the meaning entirely and can lead to confusion.

Linguistic Context

"We were had" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject ("we") was the recipient of an action (being tricked or deceived). As Ludwig explains, it's a succinct way to express successful deception. This phrase appears in news and media contexts, where conveying concise information is essential.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

TechCrunch

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were had" is a grammatically sound, though somewhat informal, way to express that a group was tricked or deceived. Ludwig confirms its correctness. While less formal than alternatives like "we were deceived", its appearance in news sources demonstrates its acceptability in a broad range of communications. Use it to succinctly convey that a group experienced deception, but be mindful of the context and audience to ensure appropriate formality. The most common mistake is misusing the phrase in active constructions. The phrase is more frequent in "News & Media" contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were deceived

Replaces "had" with the more formal "deceived", emphasizing the act of being misled.

we were tricked

Substitutes "had" with "tricked", highlighting the element of cunning or deceit.

we were fooled

Uses "fooled" instead of "had", suggesting a lack of awareness or intelligence on the part of those deceived.

we were conned

Replaces "had" with "conned", implying a fraudulent or manipulative scheme.

we were swindled

Employs "swindled" instead of "had", indicating a financial deception or fraud.

we fell for it

Shifts the focus to the action of succumbing to the deception, rather than the act itself.

we were taken in

Uses the phrasal verb "taken in" to express being deceived, suggesting a gradual or subtle deception.

we were duped

Replaces "had" with "duped", which suggests a simpler, more straightforward deception.

we were cheated

Uses "cheated" to indicate a violation of trust or fairness in the deception.

we got scammed

Uses "scammed" to convey the idea of being targeted by a fraudulent scheme or operation.

FAQs

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

Use "we were had" to indicate that a group of people were tricked or deceived. For example, "After the deal fell through, we realized "we were had" by a con artist".

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

You can use alternatives like "we were deceived", "we were tricked", or "we were fooled" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "we were had"?

Yes, "we were had" is a grammatically correct and idiomatic way to express that a group was tricked or deceived. It's a more informal way of saying "we were deceived".

What's the difference between "we were had" and "we had"?

"We were had" indicates that a group was tricked, while "we had" simply means that a group possessed something in the past. The passive construction changes the meaning entirely.