# suffer fools gladly

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/suffer-fools-gladly
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be tolerant of stupidity or incompetence in other people.

## Examples

- She does not suffer fools gladly at work.
- The manager is very impatient and does not suffer fools gladly when people make simple mistakes.
- Known for his sharp intellect and low patience, the professor rarely suffered fools gladly during his rigorous seminars.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.