English Idioms

Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms

A fool and his money are easily parted

Meaning

The idiom "a fool and his money are easily parted" means that someone who is gullible or easy to trick will quickly lose their money. It suggests that the person is not smart or wise enough to protect themselves from being taken advantage of, and therefore they have no control over their financial situation.

Usage

  • "John always falls for scams and he has lost so much money because of it."
  • "It's clear that Sarah is a fool and her money is easily parted when she hears about investment opportunities."
  • "I can't believe I fell for the fake lottery winner's story. I am such a fool and my money is easily parted sometimes."
  • "The con man managed to convince me to invest all my savings in his bogus business idea. A true fool and his money are easily parted!"
  • "I need to be more cautious with my finances, I'm always giving my money away so easily."

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom is not entirely clear, but it has been used in English since at least the 16th century. One theory suggests that it comes from a biblical verse in Proverbs 27:17, which says "Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." In this context, "iron" refers to someone who is shrewd and able to fool others, while "sharpens" means to convince or trick them out of their money. Over time, the meaning of the idiom has remained relatively consistent, although it has become more commonly used in modern language. It continues to be a popular expression in English-speaking cultures around the world.

Synonyms in English

  • "An easy mark" - someone who is easily deceived or taken advantage of.
  • "A soft touch" - someone who is too willing to give money or help.
  • "A gullible fool" - someone who is naive and trusting, often to their detriment.
  • "A mark" - someone who is easily influenced or taken advantage of.
  • "A pushover" - someone who is easily persuaded or manipulated.

Synonyms in other languages

  • Spanish: El hombre de poca inteligencia o el hombre fácil (The man of little intelligence or the easy man)
  • French: Le faucard (The gullible person)
  • German: Der Faulenwerfer (The lazy thrower, often used to refer to someone who is easily influenced or taken advantage of)
  • Italian: Il facciavivere (The quick-witted person)
  • Japanese: 稚錦な人 (The naive person)

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