arrière-pensée

9.9

A hidden reason for doing something that you do not say

noun
/ɑːˌrjɛr pɑ̃ˈseɪ/

Literature

: reservas ocultas

Even as she agreed to the proposal, an arrière-pensée lingered in her mind, making her hesitant.

Examples

Diplomats often act with an arrière-pensée, concealing their true intentions behind polite words.
His compliments seemed sincere, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he spoke with an arrière-pensée.
She accepted the offer, but there was an arrière-pensée in her mind.
His arrière-pensée made her hesitant to trust him.
Even as she agreed to the proposal, an arrière-pensée lingered in her mind, making her hesitant.
Diplomats often act with an arrière-pensée, concealing their true intentions behind polite words.
His compliments seemed sincere, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he spoke with an arrière-pensée.

Synonyms

reservation

vsarrière-pensée

73 4.8

A feeling of doubt that makes you hesitate to agree

is often hidden and may include an unstated motive preventing full acceptance

mental reservation

vsarrière-pensée

8.4

A secret doubt that stops you agreeing fully

is an unstated motive or doubt that stops full acceptance

How Hidden

secret plan

13 4.3

arrière-pensée

Literature

9.9

reservation

73 4.8

suspicion

39 2.3

Surface Forms

arrière-pensée singular

arrière-pensées plural

Etymology

Arrière-pensée is made from arrière ('behind', like the English word 'rear') and pensée ('thought'). So an arrière-pensée is literally a 'thought behind' your words or actions, a hidden reason or doubt that makes you hesitate.