Foolishness Vocabulary Set in Knowledge & Wisdom: Full and Detailed List

The 'Foolishness' vocabulary set in 'Knowledge & Wisdom' is carefully selected from standard international textbook sources, helping you master vocabulary in a short time. Comprehensive compilation of definitions, illustrative examples, and standard pronunciation...

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when the wine is in, the wit is out

/wɛn ðə waɪn ɪz ɪn, ðə wɪt ɪz aʊt/

Example:

He started insulting everyone at the party; truly, when the wine is in, the wit is out.

a fool knows more in his own house than a wise man in another

/ə fuːl noʊz mɔːr ɪn hɪz oʊn haʊs ðæn ə waɪz mæn ɪn əˈnʌðər/

Example:

I know you're an expert, but let me handle the local negotiations; a fool knows more in his own house than a wise man in another.

a fool may ask more questions in an hour than a wise man can answer in seven years

/ə ful meɪ æsk mɔr ˈkwɛstʃənz ɪn æn ˈaʊər ðæn ə waɪz mæn kæn ˈænsər ɪn ˈsɛvən jɪrz/

Example:

I don't have time for your endless 'what-ifs'; remember, a fool may ask more questions in an hour than a wise man can answer in seven years.

a fool's bolt is soon shot

/ə fuːlz boʊlt ɪz suːn ʃɑːt/

Example:

He spent his entire inheritance in a month; truly, a fool's bolt is soon shot.

a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client

/ə ˈlɔɪər huː ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnts hɪmˈsɛlf hæz ə fuːl fɔːr ə ˈklaɪənt/

Example:

The judge advised the defendant to hire an attorney, reminding him that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client.

fools build houses and wise men live in them

/fuːlz bɪld ˈhaʊ.zɪz ænd waɪz mɛn lɪv ɪn ðɛm/

Example:

I decided to buy an existing home rather than building a new one, because as they say, fools build houses and wise men live in them.

not know B from a battledore

/nɑːt noʊ biː frʌm ə ˈbæt.əl.dɔːr/

Example:

He claims to be an expert, but he does not know B from a battledore.

some are wise, and some are otherwise

/sʌm ɑːr waɪz ænd sʌm ɑːr ˈʌð.ə.waɪz/

Example:

He thought he could trick everyone, but as they say, some are wise, and some are otherwise.

stupid is as stupid does

/ˈstuː.pɪd ɪz æz ˈstuː.pɪd dʌz/

Example:

He might look slow, but stupid is as stupid does, and he just outsmarted everyone.

there is a sucker born every minute

/ðɛr ɪz ə ˈsʌkər bɔrn ˈɛvri ˈmɪnət/

Example:

He sold that broken watch for fifty dollars; I guess there is a sucker born every minute.

there is no fool like an old fool

/ðɛr ɪz noʊ ful laɪk æn oʊld ful/

Example:

He spent his entire life savings on a scam; truly, there is no fool like an old fool.

young men think old men are fools, but old men know young men

/jʌŋ mɛn θɪŋk oʊld mɛn ɑːr fuːlz, bʌt oʊld mɛn noʊ jʌŋ mɛn/

Example:

He ignored his grandfather's advice, forgetting that young men think old men are fools, but old men know young men.

ask a silly question and you'll get a silly answer

/æsk ə ˈsɪli ˈkwɛstʃən ænd juːl ɡɛt ə ˈsɪli ˈænsər/

Example:

A: 'Are you going to eat that whole cake?' B: 'Ask a silly question and you'll get a silly answer.'

knaves and fools divide the world

/neɪvz ænd fuːlz dɪˈvaɪd ðə wɜːrld/

Example:

In politics, it often seems that knaves and fools divide the world.

little things please little minds

/ˈlɪt.əl θɪŋz pliːz ˈlɪt.əl maɪndz/

Example:

He spent all afternoon organizing his paperclips, but I suppose little things please little minds.

monkey see, monkey do

/ˈmʌŋ.ki siː ˈmʌŋ.ki duː/

Example:

The toddler started using the remote after watching his dad; it's a classic case of monkey see, monkey do.

a fool may throw a stone into a well which a hundred wise men cannot pull out

/ə ful meɪ θroʊ ə stoʊn ˈɪntu ə wɛl wɪtʃ ə ˈhʌndrəd waɪz mɛn ˈkænɑt pʊl aʊt/

Example:

The intern accidentally deleted the entire database; truly, a fool may throw a stone into a well which a hundred wise men cannot pull out.

a fool at forty is a fool indeed

/ə fuːl æt ˈfɔːrti ɪz ə fuːl ɪnˈdiːd/

Example:

He is still making the same reckless financial mistakes; truly, a fool at forty is a fool indeed.