fake out
Trick with movement
To fake out is to deceive or mislead someone, typically through a sudden feint or misdirection.
The term comes from sports, where a player might fake one direction then move another to throw off a defender: He faked out the goalie and scored easily.
More broadly, it applies to any situation where someone is tricked into expecting one thing while something else happens: The plot twist completely faked me out.
A fake-out is the act itself or the deceptive move that accomplishes it.
Deceptive athletic sidestep
- feintDeceptive mock attack
- shimmyRapid side-to-side shaking
- stutter stepFeigned pause mid-stride
- crossoverGenre-blending work or transition
no-look · deke · sell · freeze · wrong-foot · misdirection · play-action · draw play
Deliberate deception for effect
- shamFraudulent imitation
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- bluffCalculated false front
- trickDeliberate deception
con · scam · swindle · fraud · ruse · dupe · hoodwink · bamboozle
False target for misdirection
- diversionRedirection of attention
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
maneuver · stratagem · feint · bait and switch · red herring · smokescreen · distraction · lure
- blindsideSurprise with unexpected force
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- startleFrighten suddenly
- stunDaze by force
shock · wrong-foot · sucker punch · bushwhack · sandbag · throw off · disconcert · fluster
juke
Deceptive athletic sidestep
- feintDeceptive mock attack
- shimmyRapid side-to-side shaking
- stutter stepFeigned pause mid-stride
crossover · no-look · deke · sell · freeze · wrong-foot · misdirection · play-action · draw play · hesitation
hoax
Deliberate deception for effect
trick · con · scam · swindle · fraud · ruse · dupe · hoodwink · bamboozle · deceive
decoy
False target for misdirection
- diversionRedirection of attention
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
ploy · maneuver · stratagem · feint · bait and switch · red herring · smokescreen · distraction · lure · trap
catch off guard
- blindsideSurprise with unexpected force
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- startleFrighten suddenly
stun · shock · wrong-foot · sucker punch · bushwhack · sandbag · throw off · disconcert · fluster · rattle
- trickerytrick, deceive, mislead, hoax, ruse
- Evasive Movessidestep, dodge, weave, juke, feint
- plot twistsplot twist, twist ending, surprise ending, unexpected turn, final reveal
- prankspranks, prank calls, prank call, prank video, practical jokes
- tacticsmaneuver, counter-attack, gambit, ambush, counterstrike
- mind gamesmind game, head game, head games, mind games, intimidation
fake outtell the truth
Communicate facts honestly
level with · come clean · disclose · confess · reveal
fake outenlighten
Impart knowledge or wisdom
clarify · inform · clue in · set straight · make clear
fake, out, faked, faker, faking, counterfeit, fakery, fakers, fakest