What happens if you play an April Fools' joke after midday?

In some traditions, particularly in the UK, you are considered the fool ('the April fool') yourself if you try to play a prank after 12 noon.

Is April Fools' Day a public holiday?

No, it is not an official public holiday anywhere. Businesses and schools operate as normal.

What are common targets of April Fools' Day pranks?

Common targets include friends, family members, colleagues, and the general public via media hoaxes. Pranks range from simple verbal tricks to elaborate physical setups.

Where did April Fools' Day originate?

The exact origins are unclear, but popular theories link it to calendar changes (from Julian to Gregorian), ancient Roman festivals like Hilaria, or medieval celebrations marking the start of spring.

Is “april fools' day” formal?

April fools' day is usually informal, occasionally formal in reporting contexts. in register.

How do you pronounce “april fools' day”?

April fools' day: in British English it is pronounced /ˌeɪ.prəl ˈfuːlz ˌdeɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌeɪ.prəl ˈfuːlz ˌdeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

april fools' day: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Medium-High

UK/ˌeɪ.prəl ˈfuːlz ˌdeɪ/US/ˌeɪ.prəl ˈfuːlz ˌdeɪ/

Informal, occasionally formal in reporting contexts.

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “april fools' day” mean?

A day, celebrated on April 1st, dedicated to playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A day, celebrated on April 1st, dedicated to playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes.

A cultural tradition where people engage in playful deception, trickery, and light-hearted pranks. The custom extends to media outlets and corporations publishing fabricated news stories. The day is also known for its suspension of normal social expectations regarding truth-telling.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Spelling: In BrE, 'fools'' is the plural possessive standard. In AmE, 'April Fool's Day' (singular possessive) is also common, though both forms exist in both varieties. The holiday is equally recognized.

Connotations

Identical connotations of playful trickery.

Frequency

Equally frequent in both dialects.

Grammar

How to Use “april fools' day” in a Sentence

V n (as/in) April Fools' Day: 'The newspaper published the story as an April Fools' Day joke.'N of n: 'It's the tradition of April Fools' Day.'Prep N: 'We have fun on April Fools' Day.'

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

on April Fools' DayApril Fools' Day prankApril Fools' Day jokeApril Fools' Day hoax

medium

celebrate April Fools' Dayfor April Fools' Dayan April Fools' Day traditionpull an April Fools' Day trick

weak

happy April Fools' DayApril Fools' Day victimfooled on April Fools' Day

Examples

Examples of “april fools' day” in a Sentence

verb

British English

They managed to April-fool the entire office with a fake memo about tea rationing.
I got April-fooled by a story about the Queen's corgis joining a rock band.

American English

The tech company April-fooled its users with a fake product launch.
Did you get April-fooled by the news story about a new national pizza holiday?

adjective

British English

It was a classic April-Fools'-Day stunt involving the office photocopier.
He had an April-Fools'-Day glint in his eye.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Used when referencing marketing campaigns, press releases, or product announcements that are deliberate hoaxes.

Academic

Appears in cultural studies, sociology, or history papers discussing traditions and folklore.

Everyday

Widely used in social conversations, media reports of jokes, and family/friend interactions.

Technical

Not applicable in technical fields unless discussing the psychology of deception or media studies.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “april fools' day”

Strong

The first of April

Neutral

All Fools' DayPoisson d'Avril (in French contexts)

Weak

Pranks dayJoke day

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “april fools' day”

Serious dayDay of truthSober occasion

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “april fools' day”

Incorrect spelling: 'April Fools Day' (missing apostrophe), 'April Fool's Days' (incorrect plural).
Using it as a verb incorrectly: 'He apriled me' (non-standard). The correct verb is 'to fool' or 'to prank'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: In some traditions, particularly in the UK, you are considered the fool ('the April fool') yourself if you try to play a prank after 12 noon.
: No, it is not an official public holiday anywhere. Businesses and schools operate as normal.
: Common targets include friends, family members, colleagues, and the general public via media hoaxes. Pranks range from simple verbal tricks to elaborate physical setups.
: The exact origins are unclear, but popular theories link it to calendar changes (from Julian to Gregorian), ancient Roman festivals like Hilaria, or medieval celebrations marking the start of spring.
: A day, celebrated on April 1st, dedicated to playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes.
: April fools' day is usually informal, occasionally formal in reporting contexts. in register.
: April fools' day: in British English it is pronounced /ˌeɪ.prəl ˈfuːlz ˌdeɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌeɪ.prəl ˈfuːlz ˌdeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“'April Fool!' (the traditional cry after a successful prank)”
“'Don't be an April fool' (caution against gullibility)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'A PRIL (prill) of laughter falls on FOOLS for one DAY.' 'Prill' sounds like 'prank' + 'spill'.

Conceptual Metaphor

SOCIAL ORDER IS REVERSED / TRUTH IS A JOKE / THE CALENDAR IS A SOURCE OF PLAY.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

Be careful what you believe online , as many websites post hoaxes.

Multiple Choice

What is the traditional cry after successfully tricking someone on April 1st?