under false pretenses

idiom

: by saying something that is not true, by pretending something, etc.
A reporter obtained documents from the company under false pretenses.

Examples of under false pretenses in a Sentence

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After much time spent together under false pretenses in Season 2, Gi-hun and The Front Man/In-ho share their first scene together in Season 3 toward the end of the series when The Front Man reveals his true identity to Gi-hun. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 29 June 2025 The New York Times reported on the event, which Grenell suggested Hickenlooper organized under false pretenses. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 24 June 2025 Late in Season 4, Camille packed up and left Paris after one last go at a relationship with Gabriel (Bravo) under false pretenses involving a fake pregnancy. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 23 June 2025 These travelers weren't deported—they were denied entry after attempting to enter the U.S. under false pretenses. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for under false pretenses

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“Under false pretenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%20false%20pretenses. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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