false front
Mask hiding truth
A false front is a facade that presents a misleading appearance.
Literally, it's an architectural feature—a flat wall extending above and beyond a building's actual structure, common on Old West storefronts to make modest buildings appear grander.
Figuratively, any deceptive presentation: His confidence was just a false front for deep insecurity.
Deceptive outward appearance
- storefrontRetail facade facing street
- shopfrontRetail establishment's street-facing exterior
- parapetLow wall at edge
- corniceOrnamental upper trim
cladding · veneer · brickwork · masonry · elevation · exterior · boom town · Old West
Deceptive act or costume party
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
- guiseExternal manner shown
- actDeed or performance
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
affectation · show · playacting · feigning · facade · veneer · public image · put-on
Retail facade facing street
- signagePosted public displays
- marqueeTheater entrance canopy
- awningMounted overhead shelter
- display windowStorefront glass exhibit area
shop · boutique · retail · branding · curb appeal · window dressing · first impression · Main Street
Absurd or obvious pretense
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- shamFraudulent imitation
- conArgument against
scam · trickery · deceit · misrepresentation · imposture · fakery · counterfeit · guile
Protect by overlaying
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- screenDisplay or barrier
- cloakSleeveless outer wrap
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
hidden · covert · undercover · shell · money laundering · illicit · smuggling · organized crime
facade
Deceptive outward appearance
- storefrontRetail facade facing street
- shopfrontRetail establishment's street-facing exterior
- parapetLow wall at edge
cornice · cladding · veneer · brickwork · masonry · elevation · exterior · boom town · Old West · western town
masquerade
Deceptive act or costume party
posturing · affectation · show · playacting · feigning · facade · veneer · public image · put-on · mask
storefront
Retail facade facing street
display window · shop · boutique · retail · branding · curb appeal · window dressing · first impression · Main Street · commercial district
charade
Absurd or obvious pretense
con · scam · trickery · deceit · misrepresentation · imposture · fakery · counterfeit · guile · subterfuge
cover
Protect by overlaying
camouflage · hidden · covert · undercover · shell · money laundering · illicit · smuggling · organized crime · laundromat
- frontsfrontline, storefront, waterfront, beachfront, lakefront
- facadesfacade, curtain walls, glass facades, storefront, entrance
- hypocrisyhypocrisy, hypocrite, sanctimony, two-faced, self-righteousness
- puttingputt, putter, putting green, cup, hole
- superficialityshallowness, superficiality, hollowness, emptiness, skin deep
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
false frontauthenticity
Quality of being genuine
genuineness · true self · authentic self · sincerity · real deal
false fronttransparency
State of being see-through
openness · open book · full disclosure · candor · forthrightness
front, false, confront, frontier, falsehood, frontal, falsely, frontage, falsify