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

“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

"I was going out with my son and he said 'hello how are you?' and so on. He always let on."

From BBC

I wonder if Tano’s comments got to her even a little more than she’s letting on.

From Literature

Did Madame Ionesco know more than she was letting on?

From Literature