Bamboozle
/bamˈbuːzəl/
verbB2
Definition
To bamboozle someone means to make them believe something that is not true, usually by using clever tricks or confusing words. It often happens when one person wants to fool another to get an advantage or to hide the truth.
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⚡ See It in Action
To trick or cheat someone by confusing them
- •The salesman tried to bamboozle the customers with fake promises.
- •He was bamboozled into buying a broken phone.
- •Don't let anyone bamboozle you with complicated words.
To confuse someone so they do not understand what is happening
- •The complicated instructions bamboozled the students.
- •She was bamboozled by the tricky questions on the test.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "bamboozle" like "trick," but with a stronger feeling of confusion and surprise
- ✓Picture a magician who uses fast hands and confusing words to hide what really happens
- ✓It's the feeling when you realize someone has fooled you in a clever, sneaky way
- ✓Sounds like "bam-BOO-zle" → imagine a sudden "BAM!" surprise that makes you feel lost or confused
- ✓In stories, tricksters or clever characters often bamboozle others to get what they want
- ✓NOT like "help" (which is honest and clear), "bamboozle" means to confuse or cheat someone
- ✓NOT like "mistake" (an accident), "bamboozle" is done on purpose to fool someone
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Deceive: to make someone believe something false (Use when the focus is on lying or dishonesty)
- •Fool: to make someone believe something wrong or silly (Use in informal situations)
- •Mislead: to guide someone in the wrong direction (Use when the confusion is caused by wrong information)
- •Confuse: to make someone unable to understand (Use when the main effect is confusion, not necessarily tricking)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix, likely playful or slang origin)
- •Etymology: Probably from 17th-century English slang, meaning to trick or cheat someone
- •Historical development: First used in the 1600s as a fun or informal way to say "to deceive or confuse"
- •Modern usage: Used mostly in informal speech or writing to describe clever tricking or confusing someone, often humorously
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when someone tried to bamboozle you? How did you feel afterward?
•How can knowing the word "bamboozle" help you understand stories or conversations about trickery?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The magician tried to bamboozle the audience by ___ their eyes with fast movements and words.
2.She was bamboozled into ___ something that was not true by the clever salesman.
3.Unlike simple mistakes, bamboozle involves ___ to confuse or trick someone.
4.When instructions are too difficult, they can bamboozle people and make them feel ___.
5.People who bamboozle others often use ___ language to hide the truth.
6.You should be careful not to get bamboozled when someone tries to ___ you.
7.The tricky questions on the test were designed to bamboozle students and make them ___.