feint
Calculated misleading move
A feint is a deceptive move—a fake attack or action meant to distract from the real one.
Boxers feint with a jab to set up a cross; soccer players feint left before cutting right.
The word extends beyond physical maneuvers: His question about the budget was a feint; he really wanted to discuss layoffs.
As a verb, to feint is to make such a move.
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
pretense · bluff · misdirection · decoy · sham · charade · artifice · guile
Sudden forward movement
- parryDefensive blade deflection
- riposteSwift clever reply
- thrustForceful forward motion
- disengageBreak free from attachment
fleche · counterattack · foil · épée · sabre · bout · piste · guard
Redirection of attention
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- flankingAt the sides of
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
decoy · maneuver · advance · retreat · offensive · formation · sortie · raid
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
trickery · pretense · bluff · misdirection · decoy · sham · charade · artifice · guile · mislead
lunge
Sudden forward movement
disengage · fleche · counterattack · foil · épée · sabre · bout · piste · guard · advance
diversion
Redirection of attention
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- flankingAt the sides of
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
reconnaissance · decoy · maneuver · advance · retreat · offensive · formation · sortie · raid · skirmish
fake
Not the real thing
- pump fakeSimulated throwing motion
- head fakeDeceptive movement to mislead
- jukeDeceptive athletic sidestep
deke · dummy · sell · misdirection · move · step-over · shimmy · hesitation · crossover · no-look
jab
Quick, straight blow
- hookCurved catching device
- uppercutAscending boxing strike
- combinationJoining of multiple elements
slip · bob · weave · footwork · ring · counterpunch · southpaw · orthodox · sparring · clinch
- kickboxingkickboxing, jab, sparring, hook kick, roundhouse kick
- boxingjab, uppercut, hook, punch, knockout
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
- combat actionsstab, slash, parry, block, thrust
- combat sportsboxing, wrestling, MMA, judo, karate
- cunning tacticscunning, guile, ruse, ploy, stratagem
feintfrankness
Direct, unguarded honesty
directness · truth · candor · plain dealing · straightforwardness
- feigned humilityFake self-effacement
- feign ignoranceFake lack of knowledge
- feigned ignorancePretending not to know
- feigned surpriseFalse show of shock
- feigned interestSimulated engagement with something
- body feintMisleading athletic motion