好词典
pretense
UK //prɪˈtens//US //ˈpriːtens//
词源
源自拉丁语 'praetensus'，意为‘伸展的’或‘假装的’，通过古法语 'pretens' 进入英语。
noun
❶ 假装或伪装的行为，通常是为了隐藏真实意图或感受。
“She made a pretense of being happy at the party.”
（她在派对上假装很开心。）
“He kept up the pretense of being a doctor for years.”
（他多年来一直假装自己是医生。）
❶ 虚假的借口或理由，用于掩盖真实目的。
“He called her under the pretense of asking for advice.”
（他以请教建议为借口给她打电话。）
“They entered the building on the pretense of making a delivery.”
（他们以送货为借口进入大楼。）
同义词:deception, falsehood, pretension
常见短语
under the pretense of — 以某种虚假的理由或借口为掩护做某事。
“He got into her house under the pretense of fixing the sink.”
（他以修理水槽为借口进入她家。）
make a pretense of — 假装做某事或表现出某种态度。
“She made a pretense of listening to his story.”
（她假装在听他的故事。）