pre·tenceBritish EnglishBrE, pretense American English /prɪˈtens $ ˈpriːtens/ noun [singular, uncountableU]
1PRETENDa way of behaving which is intended to make people believe something that is not true 假装,作假,做作
pretence that
the pretence that the old system could be made to work
假装旧体制还能运行起来
pretence of/at (being/doing) something
a pretence at seriousness
假装严肃
Tollitt made no pretense of being surprised.
托利特没有装出吃惊的样子来。
How long are you going to keep up the pretence of being ill?
你装病还要装多久呢?
abandon/give up/drop a pretence
Abandoning any pretense at politeness, they ran for the door.
他们抛下虚伪的礼节,直奔门口。
under the pretence of (doing) something
John waited for her under the pretence of tying his shoelaces.
约翰假装系鞋带等着她。
It was all an elaborate pretence.
这一切都是精心的伪装。
2under/on false pretencesTRICK/DECEIVEwithout telling the truth about yourself or your intentions 以欺诈手段,以虚假的借口
You brought me here under false pretences!
你用借口把我骗到了这里!
nCOLLOCATIONS
adjectives
an elaborate pretence (=one that is carefully planned and done, but obviously not true or real )
He made an elaborate pretence of yawning and said he was going to bed.
verbs
make a pretence
Steve made a vague pretence at being interested.
keep up/maintain a pretence (=keep pretending that you are doing something or that something is true)
She kept up the pretence that her husband had died in order to claim the insurance money.
abandon/give up/drop a pretence (=stop pretending that you are doing something or that something is true)
Maria had abandoned any pretence of having faith of any kind long ago.
make no pretence (=not pretend to do or have something)
I made no pretence of great musical knowledge.
Examples from the Corpus
pretence• He adopts Harsnett's premise that possession is a theatricalperformance - Edgar continually brings attention to his madness being a pretence.• Designing with tradition is not a pretence for re-creating the old.• The parent's intention is often to protect so they hidetears and sorrowingputting on a ghastlypretence of cheerfulness.• For all her pretence, she loved books.• On the Reach itself, there could be no pretence that this would be an ordinary night.• Mr Tellwright made no pretence of concealing his satisfaction.• Gummer makes no pretence of objectivity in his text.• The worst thing about liberalacademics is the pretence that they are somehow more open-minded than their opponents.• Wilson asked Carly out to dinner, on the pretence that he wanted to talk to her about business.• For six weeks, Charlotte had sustained the pretence that her suspicions about Maurice could somehow be stifled.• After two weeks he could keep up the pretence no longer and decided to tell her the truth.
keep up the pretence• How long could she keep up the pretence of being a competentsailor?• She was strongly aware of his presence, and in the end she couldn't keep up the pretence.• It was only in London they had to keep up the pretence that Buckmaster had nothing to do with his company.• Though we no longer went out together in the evenings, I promised to keep up the pretence that we did.• What effort is required to keep up the pretence?
(BrE) (NAmEpretense) ADJECTIVE | VERB + PRETENCE/PRETENSE | PRETENCE/PRETENSE + VERB | PREPOSITION | PHRASESADJECTIVE➤elaborate煞費苦心的裝腔作勢◇It was all an elaborate pretence.這全是裝腔作勢。➤flimsy, slight不堪一擊的/微不足道的掩飾◇There is not even the slightest pretence of trying to make it realistic.甚至絲毫沒有設法做些掩飾使之看上去真實。VERB + PRETENCE/PRETENSE➤keep up, maintain, sustain (BrE) 繼續裝模作樣◇I don't know how long I can keep up this pretence of happiness.我不知道自己裝幸福還能像這樣裝多久。➤abandon, drop, give up不再假裝;停止裝模作樣PRETENCE/PRETENSE + VERB➤be over不用再假裝◇Now that the pretence was over, he could tell them what he really thought.既然不用假裝了,他可以告訴他們自己的真實想法了。PREPOSITION➤under the pretence of以⋯為藉口◇He tried to get close to her under the pretence of examining the pictures on the wall.他藉口仔細看牆上的畫,試圖接近她。➤pretence at假裝⋯的企圖◇His pretence at friendliness fooled no one.他的故作友好騙不了大家。➤pretence of⋯的偽裝◇He was hanged without even the pretence of a proper trial.連裝模作樣的審判一下都沒有,他就被處以絞刑。PHRASES➤abandon all pretence, abandon any pretence放棄所有幌子/任何幌子◇She abandoned all pretence of neutrality and began to cheer.她放棄所有中立的幌子,開始歡呼。➤make a pretence, make no pretence假裝;沒有假裝◇I make no pretence to be an expert on the subject.我並不以這一領域的專家自居。➤by false pretences, under false pretences以欺詐的手段;以虛假的藉口◇He was accused of obtaining money under false pretences.他被指控以欺詐的手段斂財。
pretence ♦︎ cover ♦︎ mask ♦︎ front ♦︎ façade ♦︎ actThese are all words for the act of behaving in a particular way, in order to make other people believe sth that is not true.这些词均表示假装、伪装。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a cover / mask / front for sth◆to put on a pretence / a mask / a front / an act◆to maintain a pretence / cover / front / façade◆to keep up a pretence / a front / an act◆to see through a pretence / an act■pretence (BrE) (NAmEpretense) [uncountable, singular] the act of behaving in a particular way, in order to make other people believe sth that is not true假装;伪装;虚伪的表现◆By the end of the evening she had abandoned all pretence of being interested.到晚会结束时,她已将假装出来的兴趣抛得一干二净了。◆She was unable to keep up the pretence that she loved him.她无法继续假装爱他了。■cover [countable, usually singular] activities or behaviour designed to hide sb's real identity or feelings, or to hide sth illegal(对身份、情绪或违法事情的)掩盖,掩饰◆His work as a banker was a cover for his activities as a spy.他以银行家的身份为间谍活动作掩护。◆It would only take one phone call to blow their cover(= make known their true identities and what they were really doing).只要拨打一个电话就可以揭穿他们的伪装。■mask [countable, usually singular] (literary) a manner or expression that hides your true character or feelings(对真实性格或情绪的)伪装,掩饰◆Behind the mask of indifference she was grinning.她装出一副漠不关心的样子,其实在偷笑。◆The mask of politeness slipped for a moment.那彬彬有礼的伪装不小心露出了马脚,但只是片刻而已。■front [singular] behaviour that is not genuine, designed to hide your true feelings or opinions(隐藏真实情绪或观点的)表面,外表◆It's not always easy putting on a brave front for the family.为家人装出坚强勇敢的样子有时并不容易。NOTE辨析 Cover or front?Cover is often used to talk about behaviour or actions which hide illegal activities. Front is used about situations where sb tries to hide real feelings, because their real feelings might cause embarrassment, either to themselves or others. * cover常指掩饰违法活动的行为举止;front指对真实情绪的刻意掩盖,因为真实感情的流露会使自己或他人感到尴尬。■façade [countable, usually singular] (ratherformal, especiallywritten) the way that sb/sth appears to be, which is different from the way sb/sth really is(虚假的)表面,外表◆She managed to maintain a façade of indifference.她尽量继续装作漠不关心的样子。◆Squalor and poverty lay behind the city's glittering façade.表面的繁华掩盖了这座城市的肮脏和贫穷。■act [singular] a way of behaving that is not sincere but is intended to have a particular effect on others(为取得某种效果而做的)假装◆Don't take her seriously-it's all an act.别跟她认真,这全是假戏一场。