fool with

phrasal verb

fooled with; fooling with; fools with
informal
1
: to handle or play with (something) in a careless way
Don't fool with that gun.
2
: to deal with or be involved with (something that causes or that could cause trouble)
The company doesn't want to fool with small distributors.
3
: to deal with (someone) in a way that may cause anger or violence
I wouldn't want to fool with that guy.

Examples of fool with in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
But if Jon Snow were to show up wearing a jetpack and blasting fools with a plasma rifle, that would be implausible—even within a fantasy setting (or perhaps especially within that setting). Erik Kain, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024 Picking your trolling motor up halfway out of the water and skimming your way back into a backwater is something 90% of bass anglers won’t fool with. Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 10 July 2024 Contestants shoot from the lip and from the quip at each other, dueling and fooling with a topic that they’re given on the spot. Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024

Cite this Entry

“Fool with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fool%20with. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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