under/on the pretense of
idiom
: using as a false reason or explanation (something that is used to hide the real purpose of something)
He called her under/on the pretense of asking about the homework assignment.
Examples of under/on the pretense of in a Sentence
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The director’s feature debut premiered Sunday night at the Sundance Film Festival, telling the story of Lucas (Tom Blyth), a plainclothes cop in Syracuse who lures gay men into public restrooms under the pretense of a hookup only to arrest them for indecent exposure.
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2025
Garrett Sutton and Hayle Ayers, from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, were invited to New York by sponsors on the pretense of having won a contest.
—Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
These bills were passed under the pretense of protecting people, but only harm has come.
—The Learning Network, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
In the most recent suit, filed Dec. 27 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, former patients accuse Brock of groping their breasts and genitals unnecessarily under the pretense of legitimate medical examinations.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
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Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2025
Garrett Sutton and Hayle Ayers, from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, were invited to New York by sponsors on the pretense of having won a contest.
—Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
These bills were passed under the pretense of protecting people, but only harm has come.
—The Learning Network, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
In the most recent suit, filed Dec. 27 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, former patients accuse Brock of groping their breasts and genitals unnecessarily under the pretense of legitimate medical examinations.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for under/on the pretense of
Cite this Entry
“Under/on the pretense of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%2Fon%20the%20pretense%20of. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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