false front
Americannoun
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a façade falsifying the size, finish, or importance of a building, especially one having a humble purpose or cheap construction.
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any deceptive appearance.
He hid his great shyness behind a false front of aggressiveness.
Etymology
Origin of false front
An Americanism dating back to 1885–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The false front is a bit of skullduggery that harks back to a world where conspiracy to escape detection was a part of everyday life.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2025
They are feeling the exhaustion of having to keep up a false front.
From Salon • May 3, 2023
Poston’s approach to the 18th came up just short, and the gallery cheered when it began to roll off the false front into the rough.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 25, 2023
A CBP officer referred the driver for further inspection, and a CBP canine team found a false front wall in the trailer.
From Washington Times • Nov. 3, 2022
He learned to be cordial to everyone—a sophisticated and ultimately false front.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
