Everyone has a fool in his sleeve.
Everyone has a fool in his sleeve.
Meaning in plain English
The saying gives everyone a fool hidden in their sleeve. It imagines foolishness as a possibility carried even by people who seem capable.
Example
An experienced person checks a decision because familiarity does not make them incapable of error.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The concealed figure makes imperfection personal and shared. A useful application can encourage modesty about one’s judgment without assuming everyone makes the same mistakes. The image is figurative and need not turn an error into a fixed identity.
When to use it
Use it to discuss shared fallibility and room for checking.
Keep in mind
The hidden figure is metaphorical, and an error does not define a whole person.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 145; PDF page 25
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Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
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