phony
73
6.2
- noun
- /ˈfoʊni/
- Offensive
:
farsante
- People are quick to spot the phonies.
- call someone a phony
- spot a phony
- guy is a phony
It's not because those people are phonies or liars.
- It's not because those people are phonies or liars.
- I told you that you've been a fraud and a fake and a phony and you're not this good.
- Well, I'm going to tell people don't vote for a phony.
- It has been for half of my life now, but I still feel like a phony every time I call myself an actor.
- And I've seen so many people surrounded by fake phonies and just can be lonely.
Examples
-
I told you this guy's a big phony.
-
At least I know how to spot a phony.
-
Some of them are phonies, and I know which ones.
-
Don't you ever feel like a phony, living in a place like this?
Fiction book (1996) -
I mean there's just so many phonies out there!
-
I'm just a phony.
-
You're a phony.
-
Many people can easily identify a phony when they see one.
-
She pretends to care about the cause, but everyone knows she's a phony.
-
The actor was criticized for being a phony in his portrayal of genuine emotions.
Synonyms
160
4.4
A person who pretends to be something they are not to trick others
150
5.6
A person who says they have good morals but does not follow them
65
3.7
A person who pretends to be someone they are not
50
5.1
A person who pretends to be someone else to trick people
41
5.1
A person who pretends to be someone else to trick people and get money or other benefits
39
8.6
A person who pretends to be someone they are not
38
8.6
A person who says they have special skills to trick people
33
6.2
A person who pretends to be someone else to trick or entertain people
26
8.0
A person who pretends to be someone they are not to fit in
15
5.2
A person who pretends to be someone else or lies to trick people
13
5.5
A person who tricks others by making them believe something not true
7
7.1
A person who acts friendly or helpful but does not really feel that way
7
6.2
A person who seems friendly but is actually dangerous or dishonest
5
8.1
A person who pretends to be friendly but secretly harms or tricks you
4
7.0
A person who pretends to have skills or knowledge they do not have
4
6.7
A person who tricks people into believing something false for fun or attention
1
9.5
A person who hides real thoughts or plans by saying something else
1
8.5
A person who pretends to be a friend but secretly works against others
1
8.9
A person who hides their real skill to win unfairly in contests
A person who hides true feelings or plans by saying things they do not mean
A person who pretends to be someone else to trick people
A person who pretends to know a lot without real understanding
A person who pretends to have skills or money to impress others
How Genuine
- Offensive
73
6.2
- UK
50
5.1
Surface Forms
Etymology
Phony probably comes from an old trick called the fawney rig, where a fake gold ring from Irish fáinne meaning 'ring' was used to fool people. So a phony is someone who is fake or pretends to be what they are not.