Pretense: English Vocabulary List

used for saying that a person, thing, situation etc. is not actually like what their description, label, or title suggests

"It was in name."

"He was the manager in name only, with his assistant making all the actual decisions and running the department."

to act and behave as if everything is fine so that others do not find out about one's problems

"They kept up smiling."

"Despite their financial struggles, the family worked hard to keep up appearances and pretend everything was normal for their neighbors."

an insincere offer or promise of support, assistance, etc.

"He pays lip service to the idea but does nothing."

"The politician paid lip service to environmental issues but voted against every green bill."

to take action that proves one's sincerity or commitment to what one has said by investing or spending money on it

"Put money where mouth."

"The politician promised to help the community, but he needed to put his money where his mouth was and donate to local charities."

an evil person who seems nice and friendly

"He is a wolf in sheep's clothing."

"The charming new neighbour turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing who stole from everyone on the street."

to fake death by lying on the ground without moving

"He played dead well."

"The small animal tried to play dead when the predator approached, hoping it would lose interest and move on."

to behave in a way that hides one's unhappiness, worries, or problems

"She put on a brave face."

"Despite her personal struggles, she managed to put on a brave front for her children."

to act calmly in order to hide one's anger, enthusiasm, fear, etc. from others

"He tried to play it cool."

"When she saw her ex boyfriend at the party she tried to play it cool and acted like she did not care at all."

to have a bad reputation of calling for help when one does not really need any, and so making oneself untrustworthy

"Don't cry wolf too often."

"He cried wolf so many times that nobody believed him when he really needed help."

fake display of feelings of sadness, remorse, or sympathy

"His crocodile tears were fake."

"The politician shed crocodile tears for the victims, but his past actions suggested a lack of genuine concern."

used for saying that a person only appears to be nice or innocent, but they are not like that in reality

"Butter would not melt."

"She acts so sweet and innocent, but butter would not melt in her mouth; she's actually quite manipulative."

to talk or behave in a way that is fake

"She is just putting on an act."

"The child put on an act of being sick so that he would not have to go to school."

used to refer to when someone does something intentionally, but pretends as if it was an accident

"I think he broke it accidentally on purpose."

"He accidentally on purpose spilled his drink on her dress because he was angry that she had rejected him."

a person sent into a group as a spy to report on its activities

"The stool pigeon gives evidence to the police."

"The stool pigeon informed the police about the gang's planned robbery in exchange for immunity."

to pretend as if one is asleep or dead so that others will not bother or attack one

"The dog played possum."

"The soldier played possum on the battlefield pretending to be dead so that the enemy would walk past him."

someone or something that looks frightening, dangerous, or strong while in reality, they are not

"The threat was a paper tiger."

"The threat was a paper tiger and the country's military was not nearly as strong as it claimed."

to act as if one is not afraid or worried

"He whistles in the dark."

"She was just whistling in the dark because she was actually very scared inside."

to begin crying just to get others to sympathize with one or do what one asks of them

"She turned on the waterworks when she got caught."

"The little girl turned on the waterworks when her mother refused to buy her the expensive toy in the shop window."

used when someone likes to have things so expensive they cannot possibly afford

"She wants luxury holidays on a tight budget — champagne taste on a beer budget."

"The startup wanted a flagship office in the city centre with almost no funding — classic champagne taste on a beer budget."

to purposefully choose to behave in a specific manner to show a specific idea or leave a specific impression

"He strikes an attitude of confidence."

"She struck an attitude of indifference, but deep down she cared about the result."