pretence
- pretence
(BrE) (AmE pretense) noun
ADJECTIVE
▪ elaborate
▪ It was all an elaborate pretence.
▪ flimsy, slight
▪ There is not even the slightest pretence of trying to make it realistic.
VERB + PRETENCE/PRETENSE
▪ keep up, maintain, sustain (BrE)
▪ I don't know how long I can keep up this pretence of happiness.
▪ abandon, drop, give up
PRETENCE/PRETENSE + VERB
▪ be over
▪ Now that the pretence was over, he could tell them what he really thought.
PREPOSITION
▪ under the pretence of
▪ He tried to get close to her under the pretence of examining the pictures on the wall.
▪ pretence at
▪ His pretence at friendliness fooled no one.
▪ pretence of
▪ He was hanged without even the pretence of a proper trial.
PHRASES
▪ abandon all pretence, abandon any pretence
▪ She abandoned all pretence of neutrality and began to cheer.
▪ make a pretence, make no pretence
▪ I make no pretence to be an expert on the subject.
▪ by false pretences, under false pretences
▪ He was accused of obtaining money under false pretences.
Collocations dictionary.
2013.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
pretence — (US pretense) ► NOUN 1) an act or the action of pretending. 2) affected and ostentatious behaviour. 3) (pretence to) a claim, especially a false or ambitious one … English terms dictionary
Pretence — Pre*tence , n., Pretenceful Pre*tence ful, a., Pretenceless Pre*tence *less, a. See {Pretense}, {Pretenseful}, {Pretenseless}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pretence — The usual AmE spelling is pretense … Modern English usage
pretence — [prē tens′, pritens′; prē′tens΄] n. Brit. sp. of PRETENSE … English World dictionary
pretence — n. see also pretense simulation false show 1) to make a pretence (he made no pretence of being objective) 2) to see through smb. s pretence 3) under a pretence (under the pretence of patriotism; under false pretences) 4) without pretence (a… … Combinatory dictionary
pretence — pre|tence BrE pretense AmE [prıˈtens US ˈpri:tens] n [singular,U] 1.) a way of behaving which is intended to make people believe something that is not true pretence that ▪ the pretence that the old system could be made to work pretence of/at… … Dictionary of contemporary English
pretence — also pretense AmE noun (singular, uncountable) 1 an attempt to pretend that something is true (+ that): Susie abandoned the pretence that she didn t want to go to the party. | keep up the pretence of being/doing sth: How long are you going to… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
pretence — UK [prɪˈtens] / US [ˈprɪˌtens] / US [prɪˈtens] noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms pretence : singular pretence plural pretences a way of behaving that does not honestly express your real feelings, thoughts, or intentions She said she was… … English dictionary
pretence — [[t]prɪte̱ns, AM pri͟ːtens[/t]] pretences (in AM, use pretense) 1) N VAR A pretence is an action or way of behaving that is intended to make people believe something that is not true. Welland made a pretence of writing a note in his pad... We… … English dictionary
pretence — noun 1. /prəˈtɛns / (say pruh tens) pretending or feigning; make believe: my sleepiness was all pretence. 2. /prəˈtɛns / (say pruh tens) a false show of something: a pretence of friendship. 3. /prəˈtɛns / (say pruh tens) a piece of make believe.… …
