not suffer fools gladly

Idioms

Refuse to tolerate stupidity, as in Chris can be intimidating at these meetings; she does not suffer fools gladly. This expression comes from the New Testament (II Corinthians 11:19), where Paul sarcastically says, “For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.” [c. 1600]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This is a writer who does not suffer fools gladly — Raban’s nonfiction narrative engines practically glide forward on a road made from the bodies of people he has laid low with a droll aside.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 5, 2023

He did not suffer fools gladly — interviewers of the day described him as prickly.

From Washington Post • Aug. 1, 2022

I'm told they were both shrewd business women who "ran a tight ship" and "did not suffer fools gladly."

From Salon • Mar. 20, 2022

He was a man of integrity who did not suffer fools gladly.

From New York Times • Jul. 8, 2020

He was a poker-faced judge who did not suffer fools gladly.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023