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to feint

to feint

2 8.2
Make a pretend movement to trick an opponent in sport or fighting
  • verb
  • /feɪnt/
translation icon : finta
  • To create an opening, she feinted a kick before delivering a powerful punch.
  • feint and dodge
  • feint right
  • feinting to the left

Examples

  • Tom feinted toward Kinnock, hoping to draw a rush that would give the woman an opportunity to flee.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The military services and boxers learn to feint and use complicated deceptive tactics.

    Academic text (1992)
  • I catch him in the corner, feint with my left, his guard comes down...

  • Now he could feint at my head and strike for real anywhere on the left side of my chest.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I feinted right, then tried to slip to the left and past him.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Just feint at his chin, Lou.

  • Jimmy feinted one way, ducked the other way, and ran.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Naja feinted at her like a swordsman, but the woman stood unfazed.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • " Wind Runner whirled, feinted, and swung the club in a backhand toward his adversary's skull.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • In the boxing match, he decided to feint to the right to confuse his opponent.

Synonyms

to juke
vsto feint
  • Jargon
2 8.1

To make a quick fake move to get past a defender

focuses on tricking an opponent rather than simply avoiding someone
to deke
vsto feint
  • Jargon
1 9.7

To trick an opponent in sports by making a quick fake move, often in ice hockey

is a general deceptive movement used in many contexts beyond sports

How Deceptive

to deceive
270 3.9
to feint
2 8.2
to pretend
2.3

Surface Forms

feint infinitive
feinted past
feinted past participle
feinting present participle
feints third person singular

Etymology

Feint comes from old French feinte and the Latin root fingere meaning 'to shape' or 'to pretend', the same root behind fiction. So to feint is to make a 'pretend' movement to trick someone.