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.
She looks for the truth while hiding behind a false front.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2025
Winthrop’s old-timey appearance today is a false front, to a degree.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 9, 2023
They are feeling the exhaustion of having to keep up a false front.
From Salon ● May 3, 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 snatched the camellias from Jean Louise and pinned them to her shoulder, glaring sternly at her false front.
From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee
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.
