feign
gb/fˈeɪn/ us/fˈeɪn/
C1
English
színlel, tettet, kitalál, kohol
VERB
C1
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
feign [an emotion/reaction/attitude]
She feigned surprise when the lights came on, even though she already knew about the party.
Meglepetést színlelt, amikor felkapcsolódtak a fények, pedig már előre tudott a partiról.
He feigned interest in the conversation and kept glancing at his phone.
Érdeklődést színlelt a beszélgetés iránt, közben pedig folyton a telefonjára pillantgatott.
The politician feigned concern while avoiding any direct answer.
Learner examples
I feigned a smile for the photo.
A fotó kedvéért mosolyt színleltem.
She feigned excitement to be polite.
Udvariasságból lelkesedést színlelt.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse feign (/feɪn/) with faint; and do not confuse it with fain (“gladly”), which is a different word.
Meaning
pretend to feel or show
Collocations
feign surprise
|feign interest
|feign concern
|feign innocence
|feign outrage
|feign indifference
|feign politeness
|feign a smile
|feign enthusiasm
|feign calm
Synonyms
pretend (More general and more common than feign.)
|
simulate (Often suggests copying the outward signs closely.)
|
put on (More informal; emphasizes an act or performance.)
|
affect (Formal; often used for deliberately adopting an attitude or manner.)
Antonyms
be genuine (Truly feel or show the emotion.)
|
be sincere (Not pretending; honest in expression.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|social
Definition
To pretend you feel something when you do not.
To deliberately give a false appearance of a feeling, attitude, or reaction.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
színlel
C1
Usage pattern:
feign [illness/injury] | feign being [ill/weak/unwell]
He feigned illness to avoid the meeting.
Betegséget színlelt, hogy elkerülje a megbeszélést.
The suspect was accused of feigning an injury after the arrest.
A gyanúsítottat azzal vádolták, hogy az elfogása után sérülést színlelt.
She feigned being unwell so she could leave early.
Learner examples
He feigned a cold to stay home.
Megfázást színlelt, hogy otthon maradhasson.
Don’t feign an injury.
Ne színlelj sérülést.
Common mistake:
Feigned illness is deliberate; it is not the same as being hypochondriac (believing you are ill).
Meaning
pretend to be ill or hurt
Collocations
feign illness
|feign an injury
|feign sickness
|feign a headache
|feign a limp
|feign being unwell
|feign weakness
Synonyms
fake (More informal and very common.)
|
pretend (General; does not specifically imply a practical motive.)
|
malinger (More technical; specifically avoiding work or duty by pretending to be ill.)
Antonyms
recover (Return to health rather than pretending illness.)
|
be ill (Actually have the illness or injury.)
Themes
health
|work
|law
Definition
To pretend you are sick or injured.
To pretend to have an illness, injury, or physical or mental condition, especially in order to avoid work, duty, or responsibility.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
feign [an excuse/explanation/story]
She feigned an excuse about traffic, but she had simply overslept.
A forgalomra hivatkozó kifogást talált ki, de valójában egyszerűen csak elaludt.
The report suggested he feigned a story to cover up the mistake.
A jelentés szerint egy történetet talált ki, hogy leplezze a hibát.
They feigned ignorance when asked where the money went.
Learner examples
He feigned an excuse to leave.
Kitalált egy kifogást, hogy elmehessen.
She feigned a story about losing her keys.
Kitalált egy történetet arról, hogy elvesztette a kulcsait.
Common mistake:
Feigned usually suggests purposeful deception; it is not just ‘imagine’ or ‘create’ in a neutral sense.
Meaning
make up a story or excuse
Collocations
feign an excuse
|feign a reason
|feign an explanation
|feign a story
|feign ignorance
|feign misunderstanding
Synonyms
fabricate (Strongly suggests deliberate invention of false details.)
|
make up (Common and neutral/informal compared to feign.)
|
invent (Can be neutral, but in this sense means create falsely.)
Antonyms
tell the truth (Give a truthful account rather than inventing one.)
|
admit (Openly acknowledge instead of offering a false explanation.)
Themes
communication
|crime
|school
Definition
To make up a false excuse or story.
To invent or contrive something false, such as an excuse, explanation, or story, to mislead others.
Grammar
Dictionary form
feign
IPA
GB/fˈeɪn/
US/fˈeɪn/
Syllables & stress
feign (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (feign)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: feign
- 3rd Person Singular: feigns
- Present Participle: feigning
- Past: feigned
Word family
Forms
feigns
verb
feigning
verb
feigned
verb
Advanced or less common
unfeigned
adjective
Expressions
feign death
1/fˈeɪn dˈɛθ/
fixed phrase
formal
pretend to be dead
To act like you are dead.
Examples
- In the film, the hero feigns death to fool the guards.
- The animal lay still, feigning death when threatened.
- He tried to feign death, but the medics quickly noticed he was breathing.
feign ignorance
1/fˈeɪn ˈɪɡnɚəns/
fixed phrase
formal
pretend not to know
To pretend you don’t know something.
Examples
- When confronted with the email, he feigned ignorance.
- They feigned ignorance about the new policy changes.
- She feigned ignorance of the rules, but she had signed the form.
Learner examples
- He feigned ignorance about the damage.
feign illness
1/fˈeɪn ˈɪlnəs/
fixed phrase
formal
pretend to be sick
To pretend you are sick.
Examples
- He feigned illness and skipped the exam.
- The coach accused him of feigning illness to get out of training.
- She was punished for feigning illness at work.
Learner examples
- He feigned illness to stay home.
feign interest
1/fˈeɪn ˈɪntɚˌɛst/
fixed phrase
formal
pretend to be interested
To act interested even when you aren’t.
Examples
- He feigned interest in the presentation to be polite.
- She couldn’t even feign interest in the topic.
- I tried to feign interest, but my mind kept wandering.
Learner examples
- She feigned interest in my story.
feign sleep
1/fˈeɪn slˈip/
fixed phrase
formal
pretend to be asleep
To act like you are sleeping.
Examples
- She feigned sleep so she wouldn’t have to answer questions.
- He feigned sleep and listened as they talked in the hallway.
- The child feigned sleep when his parents came in.
Learner examples
- I feigned sleep on the bus.
feign surprise
1/fˈeɪn səpɹˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
formal
pretend to be surprised
To act surprised when you are not.
Examples
- Try to feign surprise when you open the gift.
- He feigned surprise at the announcement, but he was in on the plan.
- She feigned surprise when the results came in.
Learner examples
- I feigned surprise for my friend.