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Pretence means a false display of emotion or ability. It occurs when a person pretends to feel, think, or act a certain way, when the opposite is true. For instance, in order to make myself appear brave, I might lie to my friends and tell them that I rescued a child from a burning building, when in reality I am fearful and withdrawn. "Crocodile tears" -- that is, forcing oneself to weep without feeling sadness -- are also a kind of pretence.

A false excuse is also called a pretence. For example, a thief may approach a homeowner, claiming that, due to an emergency, he must use a phone; his request is actually a pretence for getting inside the home and searching for valuables. He is pretending to be innocent and using a lie to cover up a dishonest motive.

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11y ago

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