playing possum
Faking being dead
Playing possum is pretending to be dead, asleep, or unaware—from the opossum's defensive behavior of feigning death when threatened.
The phrase usually describes deliberate deception: I knew he was playing possum when I saw him peek.
It can suggest avoiding confrontation or responsibility by pretending not to notice something.
Act of escaping detection
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- duckingBending to avoid impact
- shirkingAvoiding obligatory tasks
escape · eluding · circumvention · deflection · disengagement · withdrawal · retreat · lying low
Simulating something false
- pretendingSimulating what isn't real
- shammingFalsely pretending
- actingTemporarily holding position
- simulatingArtificially replicating something
imitating · putting on · make-believe · false front · facade · masquerade · disguise · playacting
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- tacticPlanned action for advantage
- bluffCalculated false front
- shamFraudulent imitation
charade · subterfuge · guile · con · hoax · trick · stratagem · duplicity
Complete lack of motion
- immobilityLack of motion
- motionlessLacking all movement
- limpLacking firmness or rigidity
- unresponsiveFailing to react or reply
defense mechanism · instinct · adaptation · self-preservation · freeze response · deterrent · animal behavior · opossum
evasion
Act of escaping detection
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- duckingBending to avoid impact
shirking · escape · eluding · circumvention · deflection · disengagement · withdrawal · retreat · lying low · keeping mum
faking
Simulating something false
- pretendingSimulating what isn't real
- shammingFalsely pretending
- actingTemporarily holding position
simulating · imitating · putting on · make-believe · false front · facade · masquerade · disguise · playacting · performance
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
sham · charade · subterfuge · guile · con · hoax · trick · stratagem · duplicity · deceit
stillness
Complete lack of motion
- immobilityLack of motion
- motionlessLacking all movement
- limpLacking firmness or rigidity
unresponsive · defense mechanism · instinct · adaptation · self-preservation · freeze response · deterrent · animal behavior · opossum
- covert tacticssubterfuge, decoy, feint, diversion, misdirection
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- stallingstall, stalling, delay, hesitate, procrastinate
- foulslow blow, headbutt, eye gouge, biting, rabbit punch
playing possumdead to the world
Deeply, unrousably asleep
out cold · in a coma · wide awake · alive and kicking · bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
playing possumfighting back
Opposing when attacked
standing one's ground · confronting · attacking · engaging · retaliating
playing possumlaying cards on the table
coming clean · wearing one's heart on one's sleeve · making a scene
play, possum, plays, played, player, players, playing, playful, playfully