would not be fooled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would not be fooled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing that someone is not easily deceived or tricked by something or someone. Example: "Despite the elaborate scheme, she would not be fooled by their lies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

I would not be fooled".

The New York Times - Books

The Kurdish people, they told me, would not be fooled again.

The New Yorker

And they would not be fooled, they said, into proclaiming the village of Abu Dis to be East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians hope to make their eventual capital.

The New York Times

But even some Republican supporters acknowledge the full cuts might never happen". "Sometimes my party asks too much," Kasich told ABC's "This Week," saying he and others would not be fooled by "efforts to try to buy people off" with little fixes to the Senate bill to increase spending to combat opioid addiction or give more financial support to low-income people seeking health coverage.

The Washington Post

Most robots, for example, would not be fooled by the Adelson checkerboard illusion where we think two identical grey squares are different shades: "Humans looking at this illusion process the image and remove the effect of the shadow, which is why we end up seeing the squares as different shades of grey," explains McOwan.

BBC

The country-wide voting boycott showed that people would not be fooled.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Teenagers probably wouldn't be fooled," noted Celine.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Steve Thomas, admissions director at Colby College, believes he wouldn't be fooled.

The New York Times

Who wouldn't be fooled by the lavender fields of Lanarkshire, the sun-bleached hills of Kirkcaldy or the olive groves of Auchtermuchty?

The Guardian - Film

At least Gideon knows we wouldn't be fooled by the sight of him in the Ryanair queue; we'd assume he was heading to the Silverjet parked behind it.

Independent

'But the trick hasn't paid off, because Kenyans wouldn't be fooled.' Even more remarkably in a country where every vote has traditionally had its price, many of Moi's most notorious cronies lost their seats.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "would not be fooled", ensure the context clearly indicates what deception is being avoided. Providing specific details about the attempted trickery enhances the sentence's clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "would not be fooled" in situations where there's a possibility, however slim, that deception could succeed. The phrase implies absolute certainty of resistance to trickery. Consider softening it with phrases like "less likely to be fooled" or "unlikely to be fooled" to reflect a more nuanced perspective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would not be fooled" functions primarily as a declarative statement expressing a subject's resistance or immunity to deception. Ludwig examples showcase its use in news articles and opinion pieces. According to Ludwig AI, the sentence is correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "would not be fooled" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey a strong resistance to deception. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct. It appears most frequently in News & Media contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the attempted deception. Related phrases include "would not be deceived" and "could not be misled". However, avoid overstating certainty when using it. While not exceptionally common, this phrase effectively communicates a subject's ability to recognize and resist trickery in a variety of situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would not be deceived

Replaces "fooled" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing the act of misleading.

would not be tricked

Substitutes "fooled" with "tricked", focusing on a cunning and often playful method of deception.

could not be misled

Changes "would not" to "could not", suggesting an inherent resistance to being led astray.

cannot be taken in

Uses a phrasal verb to express resistance to deception, implying a more active attempt to deceive.

is too smart to fall for that

Attributes the resistance to deception to intelligence, implying a deliberate assessment of the situation.

sees through the deception

Highlights the ability to recognize and understand the deceitful nature of something.

is wise to their games

Suggests familiarity with deceptive tactics, implying a cynical understanding of others' motives.

remains skeptical

Focuses on maintaining a critical and questioning attitude, making one less susceptible to being fooled.

is not easily manipulated

Emphasizes resistance to influence or control, implying a strong sense of self-determination.

maintains a discerning eye

Highlights careful and perceptive observation, reducing the likelihood of being deceived.

FAQs

How can I use "would not be fooled" in a sentence?

You can use "would not be fooled" to express that someone is too intelligent or experienced to be tricked, as in, "Despite their sophisticated tactics, she "would not be fooled" by their scheme."

What are some alternatives to "would not be fooled"?

Alternatives include "would not be deceived", "would not be tricked", or "could not be misled", each carrying slightly different nuances in meaning.

Is it better to say "would not be fooled" or "could not be fooled"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "would not be fooled" expresses a firm intention or resolve to resist deception, while "could not be fooled" suggests an inherent inability to be deceived. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "would not be fooled" and "not easily fooled"?

"Would not be fooled" implies a stronger resistance to deception than "not easily fooled". The former suggests near impossibility of being tricked, while the latter suggests that deception is possible, but requires significant effort or sophistication.