Idiom
A fool and his money are soon parted
A fool and his money are soon parted means careless or foolish people quickly lose or waste their money.
How people use it
People use this proverb about wasteful spending, scams and silly purchases. It is often said after someone buys something useless or falls for an obvious trick. The tone is neutral but a little judgmental, so it can sting when aimed at someone else. People sometimes say it about themselves with a laugh. Modern speakers may change the pronoun, as in "a fool and her money" or "a fool and their money."
Also said: a fool and their money are soon parted.
Examples
- He spent his bonus on a fake gold watch, and a fool and his money are soon parted.
- The scam worked because, as the saying goes, a fool and his money are soon parted.
- Ana laughed after buying three gadgets she never used, saying a fool and her money are soon parted.
Where it comes from
The idea appears in English proverbs from the 1500s. The farmer and poet Thomas Tusser wrote a related line in a popular book of advice in 1573, and the familiar wording with "soon parted" settled into common use later. The exact first use of the modern form is not known.
Check yourself
1. What does the proverb mean?
Answer: Foolish people lose money quickly. The saying warns that careless people waste their money fast.
2. Which situation fits the proverb?
Answer: Ben paid a stranger online for a prize he had supposedly won.. Ben was careless and lost money to an obvious trick.
Similar idioms
Word game fan? See every word hiding in FOOL.