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Truth, Secrecy, & Deception - Pretense

Discover how English idioms like "keep up appearances" and "crocodile tears" relate to pretenses in English.

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

Ex: The organization 's mission statement included lofty ideals , but it was lip service as their practices contradicted their stated values .
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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.
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an evil person who seems nice and friendly

Ex: The politician's promises of change were a wolf in sheep's clothing, as their actions revealed a continuation of corrupt practices.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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fake display of feelings of sadness, remorse, or sympathy

Ex: The manager crocodile tears after firing the employee , pretending to feel sorry while having planned the termination for months .
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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.
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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.
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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.
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a person sent into a group as a spy to report on its activities

Ex: The journalist relied on a stool pigeon" to expose the corrupt practices of the politician .
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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 .
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someone or something that looks frightening, dangerous, or strong while in reality, they are not

Ex: The aggressive dog barked loudly but was ultimately a paper tiger" when faced with a calm and assertive owner .
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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.
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to begin crying just to get others to sympathize with one or do what one asks of them

Ex: Sarah pretended to turn on the waterworks to get out of trouble, but her sister saw through her act and didn't believe her tears were genuine.
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used when someone likes to have things so expensive they cannot possibly afford

Ex: The couple had champagne taste on a beer budget, constantly longing for lavish vacations and extravagant experiences they couldn't afford.
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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.
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Truth, Secrecy, & Deception
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