english
1
general::
Act in a silly or stupid way, as in Helen deliberately played the fool so they wouldn't realize she understood their strategy. [First half of 1500s]
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): play the fool Fig. to act in a silly manner in order to amuse other people. • The teacher told Tom to stop playing the fool and sit down. • Fred likes playing the fool, but we didn’t find him funny last night.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs