false pretense
7
8.2
- noun
- /fɔls ˈpriːtɛns/
- Jargon
:
engaño
- They were lured by false pretenses and then transported across state lines.
- obtaining money under false pretenses
- money under false pretenses
- property by false pretenses
I know, I'm sorry I lured you in on false pretences.
- I know, I'm sorry I lured you in on false pretences.
Examples
-
It's taking money under false pretenses.
-
I got into this room under false pretenses.
-
You have no right to lead me here under false pretenses.
-
You got me here under false pretenses.
-
Some director's gonna jail you for taking money under false pretenses.
-
Because it is indeed stealing when someone asks for help under false pretenses.
Blog text (12) -
Having said that, we do have laws against embezzlement and obtaining property by false pretenses.
Blog text (15) -
In the government's view, any business conducted in the bar took place under false pretenses and amounted to fraud.
Academic text (2018) -
During my temporary absence in London... on an important question of romance... he obtained admission to my house... by means of the false pretense of being my brother.
-
The company was charged with fraud for operating under false pretense to deceive investors.
Synonyms
160
4.4
A person who pretends to be something they are not to trick others
65
6.1
A false claim or action to hide the truth
6
4.3
A trick that makes something look like real magic
6
6.8
A thing or action made to trick people into thinking it is real
5
7.7
To make a document or record false on purpose by changing its information
1
9.5
To pretend to be someone else to trick people
1
9.9
A trick done to cheat or fool people
1
9.6
Pretending to be someone else or making up a false reason to get private information
To make false information, for example in documents or results, to trick people
Acting as a false owner to hide who really owns something, often illegally
Antonyms
How Deceptive
577
4.0
- Jargon
7
8.2
25
7.5
∞
2.7
- Informal
18
3.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents — 'false' (deceptive) and 'pretense' (an appearance or claim intended to mislead) — combine compositionally to yield the meaning 'a deceptive claim', so a B1 learner who knows the words can infer the core sense. The specific legal nuance (the crime of using such a claim to obtain property) is a specialist extension but does not make the basic meaning unpredictable.
Etymology
False pretense comes from the image of someone wearing a mask: false means not true and pretense is acting like something you are not. So, it means 'lying on purpose to get money or property', and doing that is a crime.