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general::
noun ADJ. elaborate It was all an elaborate pretence. VERB + PRETENCE keep up, maintain, sustain I don't know how long I can keep up this pretence. | abandon, drop, give up PRETENCE + VERB be over Now that the pretence was over, he could tell them what he really thought. PREP. under the ~ of He tried to get close to her under the pretence of examining the pictures on the wall. | ~ at His pretence at friendliness fooled no one. | ~ of He was hanged without even the pretence of a proper trial. PHRASES make a/little/no pretence I make no pretence to be an expert on the subject. | by/under false pretences obtaining money under false pretences
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
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general::
pretence
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.
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