let on

British  

verb

1. to allow (something, such as a secret) to be known; reveal

   he never let on that he was married

2. (tr) to cause or encourage to be believed; pretend

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let on Idioms  

1. Reveal one's true feelings or a fact, allow something to be known, as in Don't let on that you met her before . This usage is probably a shortening of let it on someone . [c. 1700]

2. Pretend, as in He let on that he was very angry, but in fact he didn't care a bit . [First half of 1800s] Also see let in on .

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Example Sentences

I couldn’t believe she was letting on about one of her cases.

From Literature

Molly watched him go, unable to decide whether he knew more than he was letting on or was just a coward.

From Literature

She was the one who remembered birthdays, who called just to check in, who quietly carried more than she ever let on.

From BBC

“Mister Stevens. I had my suspicions. It seems you’re better at science than you let on in here.”

From Literature

Kennedy is no fool — he knows that his efforts are more antithetical to democracy than he lets on.

From Salon