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Glite Dictionary
to make as if

to make as if

2 8.1
Pretend to start doing something without meaning to do it
  • phrasal verb
  • /meɪk æz ɪf/
: hacer como si
  • She made as if to speak, but hesitated and remained silent.
  • made as if to rise
  • made as if to go
  • made as if to stand

Examples

  • Louvia made as if to stand up.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • I would make as if to put away the book, which I imagined was still in my hands, and to blow out the light.

    Academic text (1999)

  • "I'll see" - Harry made as if to go look.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Yuri makes as if to throw it in the fireplace.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • I pushed my seat back into a reclining position, turned away from the man, and made as if to nap.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • She made as if to give John his stub, then pulled her hand back.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Sophia made as if to withdraw her hand, but Mrs. Upchurch held it fast.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Dory made as if to reply, remembered that Agnes was waiting, and turned away.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Casilda nodded a cool greeting and made as if to pass by.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • "Don't leave!" said Vivienne as Georgy drained her glass and made as if to go.

    Fiction book (1995)

Synonyms

to pretend
vsto make as if
∞ 2.3

To act as if something is true when it is not

is about showing the start of an action without intending to continue
to simulate
vsto make as if
2 6.7

Pretend to have a feeling to trick people

is about only appearing to begin an action rather than fully acting

Antonyms

to commit
345 3.4

To give time, money, or effort to something

How Convincing

to simulate
1 5.5
to feign
32 7.2
to pretend
∞ 2.3
to make as if
2 8.1

Surface Forms

make as if infinitive
made as if past
made as if past participle
making as if present participle
makes as if third person singular

Morphology

make + as + if

The meaning 'to begin or appear to do something (without actually intending to)' is transparently derived from combining 'make' (in the sense 'to act/pretend') with the comparative/subjunctive marker 'as if' ('as though'); together they form the predictable idea 'act as though'. This construction has clear cross-linguistic parallels (e.g. Spanish 'hacer como si') and follows a standard verb + as-if clause pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will typically grasp the meaning.

Etymology

Make as if comes from the small acting movements people make to show they will do something. To make a movement as if to leave or bite, then stop, is to pretend to start an action, so the phrase means 'to appear to begin something without really doing it'.