false front

American  

noun

1. a façade falsifying the size, finish, or importance of a building, especially one having a humble purpose or cheap construction.

2. any deceptive appearance.

   He hid his great shyness behind a false front of aggressiveness.

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Etymology

Origin of false front

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

When a character isn’t what they seem, making the false front too emotionally relatable is counterproductive; the viewer, using myself as an example, will feel cheated, annoyed.

From Los Angeles Times

In the final chapters, Mr. Eyman paints a surprisingly touching picture of a woman for whom age had finally provided an excuse to step away from the false front to which she had devoted her entire life.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

She looks for the truth while hiding behind a false front.

From Los Angeles Times

In one scene, the girls meet up at a bar to chat about their day, but he’s shown us that they’re both putting up a false front.

From Los Angeles Times