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Vérité, Secret et Tromperie - Pretense

Découvrez comment les expressions anglaises comme "garder les apparences" et "les larmes de crocodile" sont liées aux prétextes en anglais.

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English idioms relate to Truth, Secrecy, & Deception
in name only
[Phrase]

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

Ex: The committee had a diverse in name only, with token representation but little meaningful inclusion or participation .

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

Ex: The couple's troubled marriage was hidden from friends and family as they tried to keep up appearances of a perfect relationship.

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

des paroles en l'air, des promesses en l'air

des paroles en l'air, des promesses en l'air

Ex: The organization 's mission statement included lofty ideals , but it was mostly lip service as their practices contradicted their stated values .La déclaration de mission de l'organisation incluait des idéaux élevés, mais ce n'était surtout du **service des lèvres** car leurs pratiques contredisaient leurs valeurs déclarées.

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

Ex: The board members were discussing the need for increased donations to support the charity's programs.

an evil person who seems nice and friendly

Ex: The politician 's promises of change were wolf in sheep 's clothing, as their actions revealed a continuation of corrupt practices .
to play dead
[Phrase]

to fake death by lying on the ground without moving

Ex: When the teacher asked for volunteers, none of the students wanted to participate, so they all played dead by avoiding eye contact.

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

Ex: The actor put on a brave face despite the negative reviews, focusing on the next project with determination.

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

Ex: She had a crush on him, but she played it cool and acted nonchalant whenever they were together.
to cry wolf
[Phrase]

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

Ex: The company's repeated warnings about potential layoffs without following through caused employees to become desensitized, viewing each announcement as crying wolf.

fake display of feelings of sadness, remorse, or sympathy

larmes de crocodile, fausses larmes

larmes de crocodile, fausses larmes

Ex: The manager shed crocodile tears after firing the employee , pretending to feel sorry while having planned the termination for months .Le manager a versé des **larmes de crocodile** après avoir licencié l'employé, feignant de se sentir désolé alors qu'il avait planifié le licenciement depuis des mois.

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

Ex: She presented herself as the perfect student, as if butter would not melt in her mouth, but she was actually the mastermind behind the cheating scandal.

to talk or behave in a way that is fake

Ex: The child put on an act of being scared to avoid doing a task, but everyone knew it was just a ploy.

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

Ex: Mary strategically left her notebook behind accidentally on purpose to make her coworker finds it and sees her contact information.

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

indicateur, mouchard

indicateur, mouchard

Ex: The journalist relied on a "stool pigeon" to expose the corrupt practices of the politician .Le journaliste s'est appuyé sur un **indic** pour exposer les pratiques corrompues du politicien.

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

Ex: Suspecting danger , the played possum by freezing in place , hoping the predator would lose interest and move on .

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

tigre de papier

tigre de papier

Ex: The aggressive dog barked loudly but was ultimately a "paper tiger" when faced with a calm and assertive owner .Le chien agressif a aboyé bruyamment mais était finalement un **tigre de papier** face à un propriétaire calme et affirmé.

to act as if one is not afraid or worried

Ex: The CEO, aware of the company's financial challenges, chose to "whistle in the dark" during the shareholders' meeting, emphasizing future growth prospects to instill confidence.

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

Ex: Sarah pretended turn on the waterworks to get out of trouble , but her sister saw through her act and did n't believe her tears were genuine .

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

Ex: The couple champagne taste on a beer budget, constantly longing for lavish vacations and extravagant experiences they could n't afford .

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

Ex: The CEO entered the boardroom, striking an attitude of authority and command, instantly capturing the attention of everyone present.
Vérité, Secret et Tromperie
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