faking it
Simulating without substance
Faking it is pretending to have knowledge, skill, or feelings you don't actually possess.
The phrase often appears in the advice to fake it till you make it—act confident until confidence comes naturally.
Someone faking it at work bluffs through tasks they haven't mastered.
In intimate contexts, faking it usually means simulating orgasm.
- pretendingSimulating what isn't real
- bluffingDeceiving about one's position
- poker faceIntentionally expressionless look
- deceivingCausing false belief
- false pretensesDeceptive claims for gain
acting · going through the motions · fronting · posing · masking · imposter · charade · facade · phony · counterfeit · sham · feigning · white lie · mimicking · hustling · performing · lying · fraudulent
- Social Pretensepretense, facade, affectation, phoniness, insincerity
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fraud, cheat
- bending rulesloopholes, skirting, exploits, workarounds, cutting corners
authenticity/genuineness
faking itkeeping it real
Maintaining genuine behavior
being honest · being oneself · walking the walk · showing one's true colors · wearing one's heart on one's sleeve