were not cheated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were not cheated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was not deceived or defrauded in a particular situation. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, it was clear that the players were not cheated during the game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

City were not cheated.

Independent

You were not cheated.

The New York Times

After you receive the wood, take your own measurements to make sure that you were not cheated.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Transportation officials said they had to take action to ensure people were not cheating the system.

The Washington Post

But we weren't cheated, Scotland scored a good goal".

The Guardian - Sport

Furthermore, the dominant clone at high-relatedness was not cheated by the other two that persisted at low relatedness.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

This will ensure that you're not cheated.

WikiHow

It would be inconceivable if they weren't cheating to some degree.

The New Yorker

Everybody was cheating and pretty soon if you weren't cheating it wasn't fun.

Forbes

So if banks were cheating with Libor, they weren't cheating in a very noticeable way.

Huffington Post

When they confront you, show them that you weren't cheating.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were not cheated" when you want to emphasize that someone avoided being unfairly deceived or taken advantage of in a specific situation, especially in contexts involving transactions or competitions.

Common error

Avoid using "were not cheated" if the situation involves simple mistakes or misunderstandings, rather than deliberate deception. Opt for phrases like "were not misled" or "were not mistaken" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not cheated" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that a subject avoided being deceived or treated unfairly. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it often appears in contexts where honesty and fair dealing are expected.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were not cheated" is a grammatically correct predicate phrase used to express the absence of deception or unfair treatment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English. While the phrase has a rare occurrence, primarily in News & Media and Wiki contexts, it effectively communicates the idea that someone avoided being tricked or treated unfairly. Related phrases include "were not deceived" and "were not swindled". When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a situation where deliberate deception was avoided, and consider alternative phrasing for situations involving simple mistakes. The authoritative sources like The New York Times show the importance of using this term correctly to emphasize honesty and transparency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were not deceived

Replaces "cheated" with a broader term for being misled.

were not swindled

Suggests a financial fraud or scam.

were not defrauded

Emphasizes the illegal aspect of being cheated.

were not exploited

Highlights being unfairly taken advantage of.

were not taken advantage of

A more general way of saying someone wasn't unfairly used.

were not scammed

Implies a deliberate scheme to deceive.

were not bamboozled

An informal way to say someone wasn't tricked.

were not hoodwinked

Suggests a subtle form of deception.

were not duped

Implies naivety on the part of those who could have been cheated.

were not conned

Short and informal for being tricked out of something, usually money.

FAQs

How can I use "were not cheated" in a sentence?

You can use "were not cheated" to indicate that someone avoided being deceived or treated unfairly. For example, "The customers "were not cheated" because the prices were clearly displayed".

What's a formal alternative to "were not cheated"?

In a formal context, you might use phrases like "were not defrauded" or "were not subjected to deceit" to convey a similar meaning with a more serious tone.

What's the difference between "were not cheated" and "were not misled"?

"Were not cheated" implies a deliberate act of deception or unfairness, often involving a transaction or competition. "Were not misled" simply means someone wasn't given incorrect information, regardless of intent.

When is it appropriate to use "were not swindled" instead of "were not cheated"?

Use "were not swindled" when referring to a situation where someone narrowly avoided being tricked out of money or possessions. It emphasizes the financial aspect of the attempted deception.