play a joke on vs fox

play a joke on is not a noun while fox is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
play a joke on	No	No	Yes	No
fox	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, play a joke on and fox are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of play a joke on include flim-flam, fob, play a trick on, play tricks, pull a fast one on, trick.

play a joke on (noun)	fox (noun)
	alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs
	a shifty deceptive person
	the grey or reddish-brown fur of a fox

play a joke on (verb)	fox (verb)
subject to a playful hoax or joke	become discolored with, or as if with, mildew spots
deceive somebody	be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly
	deceive somebody