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Cambridge English: CPE (C2 Proficiency) - Deception & Corruption

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Cambridge English: CPE (C2 Proficiency)
artifice
artifice
[noun]

a clever action or behavior that is intended to trick and deceive others

Ex: His smile was an artifice designed to hide his true intentions .
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bravado
bravado
[noun]

a bold or swaggering display of courage or confidence, often used to mask fear, insecurity, or uncertainty

Ex: The gang leader 's bravado was shattered when faced with the consequences of his reckless actions .
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canard
canard
[noun]

a baseless and made-up story or news report created to mislead people

Ex: The author 's latest book explores the origins and impact of various historical canards throughout the centuries .
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chicanery
chicanery
[noun]

the use of clever or dishonest schemes to mislead others

Ex: The deal was full of legal chicanery designed to trick buyers .
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cipher
cipher
[noun]

a specific code or set of rules used to disguise the content of a message

Ex: The document described the steps to create the cipher.
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connivance

the act of secretly agreeing to or cooperating in a dishonest or illegal plan

Ex: The smuggling ring worked under the connivance of law enforcement .
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guise
guise
[noun]

an external appearance or manner of presentation that often hides the true nature of something

Ex: The spy operated under the guise of a tourist , discreetly gathering intelligence in a foreign country .
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machination

a secret or clever plot, typically with a sinister purpose

Ex: The royal court was full of subtle machinations.
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ruse
ruse
[noun]

a cunning or deceptive strategy or action intended to deceive or trick someone

Ex: He saw through her ruse and refused to be swayed by her deceptive tactics .
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pig in a poke

something bought or accepted without being properly examined first and then leading to disappointment

Ex: Investing in that 'get rich quick' scheme turned out to be a pig in a poke; I lost all my money.
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crocodile tears

fake display of feelings of sadness, remorse, or sympathy

Ex: The manager shed crocodile tears after firing the employee , pretending to feel sorry while having planned the termination for months .
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feint
feint
[noun]

a deceptive or pretended movement, often in sports or combat, intended to mislead or distract an opponent

Ex: His feint was so convincing that the opponent completely misjudged his next move .
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prevarication

the act of deliberately avoiding the truth, often by lying or misleading

Ex: The CEO 's prevarication angered shareholders demanding honest answers .
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subterfuge

the use of deceptive methods or devices to achieve something

Ex: Her subterfuge included crafting a false backstory to gain trust and access sensitive information .
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sophistry
sophistry
[noun]

the use of clever but deceptive arguments intended to mislead

Ex: The philosopher criticized the sophistry in popular rhetoric .
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to bilk
to bilk
[Verb]

to unfairly take money or what someone deserves from them through dishonest methods

Ex: The con artist managed to bilk several clients out of their money .
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veneer
veneer
[noun]

a superficial appearance that hides the true nature of something

Ex: The smooth talker 's veneer could n't hide his dishonesty for long .
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to cozen
to cozen
[Verb]

to use deceitful means to trick someone

Ex: They will cozen their rivals by spreading false rumors to gain a competitive advantage .
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to dissemble

to conceal one's true emotions, beliefs, or intentions

Ex: Despite her efforts to dissemble her thoughts , her eyes betrayed her genuine concern .
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to dupe
to dupe
[Verb]

to trick someone into believing something that is not true

Ex: He duped his friend into lending him money by fabricating a story about needing it for an emergency .
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to equivocate

to purposely speak in a way that is confusing and open to different interpretations, aiming to deceive others

Ex: When pressed for details , the spokesperson began to equivocate about the company 's plans .
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to inveigle

to trick someone into doing something through clever and cunning methods

Ex: The deceptive marketer tried to inveigle consumers into purchasing the product with misleading advertisements .
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to finesse

to handle a situation or person in a skillful, clever, and sometimes deceptive way

Ex: She finessed the team into agreeing with her plan by highlighting only the benefits .
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to malinger

to fake illness in order to skip working or doing one's duties

Ex: Several employees had malingerered the previous winter to avoid shoveling snow during heavy storms.
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to prevaricate

to avoid giving a direct answer by being deliberately ambiguous

Ex: She prevaricated to avoid admitting her mistake .
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to renege
to renege
[Verb]

to act against an agreement, promise, etc.

Ex: She was wary of making new deals after her previous partner reneged on their contract.
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to delude
to delude
[Verb]

to deceive someone into believing something that is not true, often by creating false hopes or illusions

Ex: The magician ’s tricks deluded the audience into thinking they had seen real magic .
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to obfuscate

to deliberately make something unclear or difficult to understand, often to hide the truth

Ex: She obfuscated her intentions by speaking vaguely during the meeting . Ask ChatGPT
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to foist
to foist
[Verb]

to pass off something false or inferior as genuine or valuable, typically with the intent to deceive

Ex: Over the years , the con artist has foisted countless counterfeit goods onto consumers , exploiting their trust for personal gain .
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to whitewash

to hide or downplay a mistake, wrongdoing, or flaw to make something seem better than it really is

Ex: The school board refused to whitewash the principal 's misconduct .
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to wink at

to quietly allow or ignore something wrong or improper without openly admitting approval

Ex: The police were accused of winking at corruption in the city .
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to wheedle

to obtain something through coaxing, charm, or subtle persuasion

Ex: He wheedled his way into the exclusive party .
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legerdemain

cunning or deceitful behavior or manipulation

Ex: The criminal 's legerdemain enabled him to evade capture for years , leaving authorities baffled by his elusive tactics .
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to indoctrinate

to teach a set of beliefs or principles in a way that discourages questioning or critical thinking

Ex: The recruits were indoctrinated with loyalty to the commander .
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collusion
collusion
[noun]

secret agreement particularly made to deceive people

Ex: Collusion among the committee members led to unfair bidding practices .
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