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.

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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.… …  

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