under the impression
Falsely assuming something
Under the impression means believing something to be true, often mistakenly: I was under the impression we were meeting at noon.
The phrase typically signals that one's belief was or may be wrong—you wouldn't say you were under the impression the sky is blue.
It softens contradiction: I was under the impression you'd already been paid politely suggests someone may be lying or mistaken.
- assumptionUnverified belief accepted as true
- mistaken beliefIncorrect idea held true
- misapprehensionIncorrect belief or understanding
- misunderstandingFailure to grasp meaning
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
wrong idea · miscommunication · lost in translation · belief · doubt · conjecture · rumor · supposition · taken for granted · perception · confusion · inference · hearsay · bad information · trust · interpretation · persuasion · expectation
under the impressionunsure
Lacking confidence or certainty
doubtful · uncertain · skeptical · wondering · questioning
under the impressionknow for a fact
Have verified knowledge
certain · sure · well-informed · cognizant · disabused
under the impressionin the dark
Uninformed about something
clueless · uninformed · unaware · oblivious · ignorant
under, impression, impress, impressed, impressing, impressive, impressively, impressionable, impressionism