abandon/drop all pretense at
phrase
: to stop acting or appearing in a way that looks real but is false : to stop pretending
He abandoned/dropped all pretense at politeness.
Cite this Entry
“Abandon/drop all pretense at.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abandon%2Fdrop%20all%20pretense%20at. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
